Skip to main content

2021 Phillies Top Prospects Countdown: #5 LHP Erik Miller

Please visit Patreon.com/PhoulBallz in order to support my work and get access to material like this before anyone.  Plus you'll get interviews as well as other exclusive content you won't be able to enjoy anywhere else. 

Left-handed pitcher Erik  Miller is widely regarded as one of the Phillies most promising prospects.  Selected in the 4th round of the 2019 draft out of Stanford, the Missouri native quickly made an impact as a professional and was promoted twice in his brief stint in the minor leagues.

At three levels of the minors as a 21-year-old, Miller tallied a 1-0 record with a 1.50 ERA, a .188 batting average against, a 1.11WHIP along with a 13.0 K/9 mark in 11 appearances.

Listed at six-feet-five, 240 pounds, Miller likely would have pitched at the Double-A level last year if the minor league season had not been cancelled due to the pandemic.  

Regarded as one of the best college lefties in his draft class, Miller was outstanding in college as well.  In his junior season (2019), Miller was named as a Baseball America second team Preseason All-American. In 16  starts that season, he posted an 8-3 record with a 3.48 ERA, a .224  batting average against and an 11.1 K/9 mark.

Miller updated his pitch repertoire after signing with the Phillies.  He changed his "slurve" offering into two distinct pitches, adding a curve ball and a slider.  The vertical break of the curve will compliment the other offerings, which are a mid-90's four-seam fastball and a change up.

Last year, during his down time, Miller found it beneficial to become somewhat of his own coach.  Getting his work in away from the ballparks was necessary, so he learned to determine feedback on what he saw and felt with his personal sessions.  He pitched with a routine that would allow him to simulate a full season.

He was able to participate in the fall instructional league and saw some game action there.  

This year, look for Miller to open the campaign at the Double-A level.  An estimated time of arrival in the big leagues could be a year away.

You can keep tabs on this year's Phillies prospects countdown by clicking on this link.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: Reading second baseman Jesmuel Valentin

Jesmuel Valentin, image- Jay Floyd Switch-hitting infielder Jesmuel Valentin has been a bit of an underrated contributor with the Double-A Reading Fightins. Heading into action on Friday, Valentin was batting .339 over his last 14 games. Overall this season, the 22-year-old is batting .282 with four home runs and 35 RBI in 64 games. Valentin, who plays mostly second base, but dabbles at shortstop a bit also, is the son of former big leaguer Jose Valentin . The Puerto Rico native was a supplementary round pick (51st overall) of the Dodgers in 2012. He was acquired by the Phils as part of the Roberto Hernandez trade in 2014. Recently, I spoke with Jesmuel about his team's success, growing up around the game and more. Read ahead for that full interview. -The Reading team has been great and you've contributed very nicely to the club's success. What are your thoughts on competition in the Eastern League this year? I just came here with the mindset that...

Rappers in Phillies Caps

Weekend greetings to you phine pholks out there. Today's post features pictures of rappers wearing Phillies caps. Why rappers in Phillies caps, you ask? Because... Any other questions? We will start things off properly by going with a highly recognizable hip hop star. 50 Cent stays constantly relavant by consistantly creating radio friendly material to help sell (G) units, while he "keeps it real" by still rapping about the thug life he lived before becoming the 2nd highest earning black entertainer in America. 50 is seen here in a recent interview rocking a throw-back Phillies cap. Next up we'll use a throw-back screen cap from what may be the very first major appearance by a rapper wearing Phillies gear. Chuck D, of legendary rap group Public Enemy, wore a Phillies cap in the music video for rap anthem Fight The Power in 1989. The song was the lead single from the soundtrack for Spike Lee's film Do The Right Thing . Next up we'll go with some home grown tal...

The Second Place New York Mess, Sucking Annually

Well, the Mets are at it again...stinking up New York, the NL East and all of MLB. This time it's not with their miserable September play, it's with their crummy uniform decor. The Metropolitans are accessorizing their home jerseys this year with a comemorative patch to celebrate their new home, CitiField. Allow me to present to the Phillies Phaitful the fresh new uniform addition that the NY Metropolitans will have for 2009. This awful image to the right is really what the Metropolitans intend to have on their jersey sleeve this coming season... Amatuerish? To say the least. How about that world class franchise across town? They are going to have a new ballpark as well. What might their patch look like? Have a glance... It is a shame really. The Mets think their Dominos Pizza logo looking art work is sufficient enough to represent what kind of corporate baseball giant they are presenting the world. They are clueless. It screams out, "We deliver hot and fresh in 30 minut...