| Mason Miller | |
|---|---|
| San Diego Padres – No. 22 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1998-08-24)August 24, 1998 (age 27) Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 19, 2023, for the Oakland Athletics | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 3–7 |
| Earned run average | 2.81 |
| Strikeouts | 246 |
| Saves | 50 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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Mason James Miller (born August 24, 1998) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theSan Diego Padres ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theOakland Athletics / Athletics. He made his MLB debut in 2023, and was anAll-Star selection in2024.
Miller played forBethel Park High School inBethel Park, Pennsylvania, while being homeschooled, and playedcollege baseball atWaynesburg University for four years until he graduated. He then played forGardner-Webb University for his fifth year as a graduate student.[1][2][3] As a sophomore at Waynesburg, he was diagnosed withType 1 diabetes.[4][5]
TheOakland Athletics selected Miller in the third round of the2021 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] He made his professional debut that year with theArizona Complex League Athletics. In 2022, Miller pitched in only six games between the ACL Athletics,Lansing Lugnuts andLas Vegas Aviators. After the season, he played in theArizona Fall League.[8]
Miller began the 2023 season with the Double-AMidland RockHounds, starting one game for the team before being moved up to Triple-A Las Vegas. After one start in Triple-A, on April 18, 2023, with 11 strikeouts over 5 perfect innings, the Athletics announced that Miller would be promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[9]
Miller made his debut a day later, April 19, 2023, in a game against theChicago Cubs. He pitched 41⁄3 innings, allowing two runs on four hits, a walk, and five strikeouts.[10] Miller also became the 10th starting pitcher since the debut ofStatcast to throw 15 pitches above 100 miles per hour (160 km/h).[11] After a May 8 start against theKansas City Royals,[12] it was reported that Miller was dealing with elbow tightness.[13] He was later diagnosed with a mild sprain of theulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow and promptly shut down from throwing.[14] On June 30, he was transferred to the 60-day injured list.[15] On September 6, Miller was activated from the injured list, with managerMark Kotsay noting that he would be slated for a relief role.[16] Miller finished the 2023 season with a 3.78 ERA in 10 games, 6 of which were starts.[17]
In an effort to maintain Miller's health, the A's announced that Miller would be a reliever during the 2024 season.[18] Beginning the season as the team's closer, Miller earned his first career save in a 4–3 win atTexas on April 9.[19] Miller was namedMLB Reliever of the Month for April 2024 after earning 8 saves in 8 opportunities and 28 total strikeouts.[20]
On July 7, 2024, Miller was named as a reserve player in the2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, having recorded a 2.39 ERA with 14 saves and 66 strikeouts (leading all AL relievers) up to that point.[21][22] During the All-Star Game, Miller recorded a scoreless fifth inning with two strikeouts, ultimately earning the win as the American League beat the National League 5–3. During that inning he threw the fastest pitch in All-Star Game history, a 103.6 MPH fastball toTrea Turner.[23]
On September 26, 2024, Miller became the last pitcher to throw a pitch at theOakland Coliseum in a major league game.[24] He closed out the 3–2 victory over theTexas Rangers with a groundout fromTravis Jankowski, recording his 28th save of the year, and the franchises' final win in Oakland. During this outing, Miller set the new franchise record for saves recorded by a rookie with 28, and threw the fastest pitch in Oakland Coliseum history, at 103.8 MPH.[25]
Miller finished the 2024 season with a 2.49 ERA, 28 saves, and 104 strikeouts across 55 games.[17] He was named to theAll-MLB Second Team, and finished fourth inAL Rookie of the Year voting.[26][27]
On April 12, 2025, Miller recorded the Athletics' first save atSutter Health Park inSacramento, after throwing a scoreless 9th inning to close out a 3–1 victory over theNew York Mets.[28] Miller recorded a 3.76 ERA with 20 saves and 59 strikeouts across 38 games for the Athletics in 2025.[17]
On July 31, 2025, the Athletics traded Miller andJP Sears to theSan Diego Padres in exchange forLeo De Vries,Braden Nett,Eduarniel Núñez andHenry Baez.[29][30] On August 6, Miller recorded his first save as a Padre, striking out all three batters in the 9th inning to close out a 3–2 victory over theArizona Diamondbacks.[31] On September 3, in the eighth inning versus theBaltimore Orioles, Miller became just the second Padre to pitch animmaculate inning, striking outJeremiah Jackson,Ryan Mountcastle, andEmmanuel Rivera, on nine consecutive sliders.[32] Miller ended his year with the Padres with a 0.77 ERA, 2 saves in 3 opportunities, and 45 strikeouts in 22 games.[17]
Miller finished the 2025 season with a 2.63 ERA, 22 saves, and 104 strikeouts across 60 games between the Athletics and Padres.[17] In Game 1 of the2025 National League Wild Card Series against theChicago Cubs, Miller made his first postseason appearance, striking out all three batters in the seventh inning. The Cubs won the game 3–1.[33]
Miller is anEagle Scout.[34] He grew up as a fan of thePittsburgh Pirates.[35]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | American League Reliever of the Month April 2024 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | National League Reliever of the Month September 2025 | Succeeded by Most recent |