You’d be forgiven if you don’t remember the promise that this name once held, but the Indians have extended a chance to their former top prospect to realize his Major League dreams.
Miller, now 29, was once the next big thing for the Indians organization. He was Danny Salazar before we knew who Danny Salazar was. Salazar obviously made it; Miller, due to numerous elbow surgeries and a reoccurring finger issue that would eventually be his undoing, never did.
(But credit to Miller for having a sense of humor about it. This is Twitter handle.)
Miller had the kind of stuff that made baseball fans drool. The mid- to upper 90s fastball and the windshild-wiper slider. The potential was he’d carry the Tribe in the way that CC and Cliff did, but nature didn’t permit. The Indians tried to keep him for as long as they could, but the risk outweighed the reward. Following the 2010 season, the Indians and Miller thought they were parting for good.
So where has Miller been? He found himself in the Yankees organization in 2012. And then last year, he was pitching independent ball with the Sugar Land Skeeters, which just so happens to be the same club where Scott Kazmir was plucked by the Indians. Kazmir, of course, resurrected his career with the Tribe and parlayed last season’s success into a multi-year deal with Oakland.
Could lightning strike twice for the Indians? For Adam Miller’s sake, it would make for one whale of a story if he can.
Adam Miller, sigh…
He was the Indians answer to Justin Verlander. Damn shame.