| Wade Miley | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Miley with theBiloxi Shuckers in 2018 | |
| Free agent | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1986-11-13)November 13, 1986 (age 39) Hammond, Louisiana, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 20, 2011, for the Arizona Diamondbacks | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 109–99 |
| Earned run average | 4.09 |
| Strikeouts | 1,368 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Wade Allen Miley (born November 13, 1986) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played inMajor League Baseball (MLB) for theArizona Diamondbacks,Boston Red Sox,Seattle Mariners,Baltimore Orioles,Milwaukee Brewers,Houston Astros,Cincinnati Reds andChicago Cubs.
Miley playedcollege baseball atSoutheastern Louisiana University and the Diamondbacks selected him in the first round of the2008 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks in 2011 and was anAll-Star in 2012. On May 7, 2021, he threw ano-hitter against theCleveland Indians.
Miley was born inHammond, Louisiana, but grew up inLoranger, a town of 6,100 residents and 1,924 households. His father, Wendell, was a mechanic for18 wheelers.[1] Miley attendedLoranger High School andSoutheastern Louisiana University, where he playedcollege baseball for theSoutheastern Louisiana Lions baseball team.[2] In 2007, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theWareham Gatemen of theCape Cod Baseball League and was named a league all-star.[3][4][5]
TheArizona Diamondbacks selected Miley in the first round, 43rd overall, of the2008 Major League Baseball draft.[6] He made his debut professionally with theYakima Bears of theLow-ANorthwest League. Miley was called up to the majors for the first time on August 15, 2011,[7] and would finish the season with a 4–2 record in eight games (seven starts).
Miley was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Month for April 2012, pitching 3–0 with a 1.29 earned-run average (ERA), striking out 15 in 21 innings in two starts. Miley took a no-hitter into the 6th inning against Miami. He was also named a NL All-Star in his rookie season after beginning the 2012 season with a 9–5 record with a 3.04 ERA.[8] Later that season on October 1, 2012, Miley pitched animmaculate inning in a game facing theColorado Rockies. Miley won 16 games for the Diamondbacks in 29 starts in 2012. He also made 3 relief appearances. He had an ERA of 3.33 in194+2⁄3 innings.[9]
Miley was voted runner-up for theNational League Rookie of the Year in 2012, narrowly losing toBryce Harper of theWashington Nationals.[10]
On April 22, 2013, Miley hit his first career home run. Miley took a step back from his strong rookie season, managing just 10 wins despite pitching over 200 innings. In 2014, Miley would pitch to a 4.34 ERA with 183 strikeouts and a win–loss record of 8–12.[11]
On December 12, 2014, the Diamondbacks traded Miley to theBoston Red Sox in exchange for pitchersRubby De La Rosa andAllen Webster and infielder Raymel Flores.[12] On February 5, 2015, Miley and the Red Sox agreed on a three-year $19.25 million contract extension.[13] On April 21, Miley won his first game with the Red Sox, throwing5+2⁄3 shutout innings versus theTampa Bay Rays.[citation needed][14] For the season, Miley pitched to a 4.46 ERA in 32 starts, compiling an 11–11 record with 147 strikeouts across193+2⁄3 innings pitched.
On December 7, 2015, the Red Sox traded Miley andJonathan Aro to theSeattle Mariners in exchange forRoenis Elías andCarson Smith.[15] Miley struggled during his stint with Seattle, pitching to a 4.98 ERA and a 7–8 record with 82 strikeouts. In his last start for the team, he pitched seven scoreless innings against theChicago Cubs.
On July 31, 2016, the Mariners traded Miley to theBaltimore Orioles in exchange forAriel Miranda.[16] In August, he made six starts, pitching to a 7.14 ERA in 29 innings and had a 1–3 record. The Orioles went 2–4 in his starts. On September 18, Miley pitched four scoreless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays, before being pulled with a back injury. He returned his next start, taking a shutout into the 9th inning against his former team the Diamondbacks. He ended pitching 82⁄3 innings before allowing an RBI double. He struck out a career-high 11 batters in his best start in an Orioles uniform. Overall, Miley finished 2–5 in 11 starts with an ERA of 6.17 for Baltimore. The following season, Miley was tabbed as the #4 starter in the rotation. He endured his worst season of his career, setting career worsts in ERA for a full season (5.61), losses (15), home runs allowed (25) and walks (93). He also pitched in a career low157+1⁄3 innings pitched. On July 30, 2017, Miley gave upAdrián Beltré's 3,000th career hit. On November 3, 2017, the Orioles declined Miley's 2018 option.[17]
On February 14, 2018, Miley signed a minor league contract with theMilwaukee Brewers.[18] He began the season with the Double-ABiloxi Shuckers, but was called up a couple of weeks later. Miley pitched in two starts before landing on the 60 day disabled list with an oblique injury. He was activated off the disabled list on July 12, going 5–2 with a 2.57 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 16 starts. Miley also started Game 3 of theDivision Series, along with Games 2, 5, and 6 of theNLCS.
In Game 5 he faced only one hitter before being replaced with a right-handed pitcher. This made Miley only the second starter in postseason history to face a single batter and the first to do so without getting the batter out.[19] By starting Game 6 he became the first pitcher in88 years to start back-to-back postseason games.[20]
Miley signed a one-year contract worth $4.5 million with theHouston Astros on February 1, 2019.[21] In 33 starts for Houston, he posted a 14–6 record with a 3.98 ERA with 140 strikeouts over167+1⁄3 innings of work, but did not make the World Series roster.[22]
On December 18, 2019, Miley signed a two-year contract, with a club option, worth $15 million with theCincinnati Reds.[23] In aCOVID-19 shortened season, Miley was 0–3 with a 5.65 ERA with 12 strikeouts in14+1⁄3 innings pitched over 6 games (4 starts).[22]
On May 7, 2021, Miley threw the17th no-hitter in Reds history, striking out eight batters while allowing only two baserunners in the 3–0 win against theCleveland Indians. It was the fourth no-hitter of the season and the second in three days afterJohn Means of theBaltimore Orioles threw his against theSeattle Mariners.[24] Miley finished the 2021 season with a 12–7 record and 3.37 ERA with 125 strikeouts over 28 starts.
On November 5, 2021, the Reds placed Miley onwaivers and he was claimed by theChicago Cubs. Miley only made eight starts for the Cubs (plus, one relief appearance) in 2022 due to injuries, and logged a 3.16 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 37 innings of work.[25][26]
On January 9, 2023, Miley signed with theMilwaukee Brewers on a one-year $4.5 million deal with a mutual option for the 2024 season.[27] Miley made 8 starts for the Brewers before leaving a May 16 start against theSt. Louis Cardinals with alat injury.[28] On May 19, it was announced that Miley would miss 6–8 weeks after being diagnosed with aposterior serratus strain.[29] After the season, Miley declined the option on his contract for the 2024 season and became a free agent.[30]
On December 4, 2024, Miley re–signed with Milwaukee on a one-year contract worth $7 million along with a mutual option for the 2025 season.[31] He made two starts for Milwaukee (posting a 6.43 ERA with two strikeouts) before he was placed on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. On April 26, 2024, it was announced that Miley would undergoTommy John surgery, ending his season.[32] On October 31, the Brewers declined his option, making him a free agent.[33]
On January 29, 2025, Miley signed a minor league contract with theCincinnati Reds.[34] In seven starts split between the High-ADayton Dragons and Triple-ALouisville Bats, he struggled to a 1-2 record and 8.84 ERA with 15 strikeouts across19+1⁄3 innings pitched. On June 1, Miley opted out of his contract and became a free agent.[35] On June 4, Miley re-signed with Cincinnati on a major league contract.[36][37] In three appearances (two starts) for Cincinnati, Miley posted a 1-0 record and 6.75 ERA with seven strikeouts over 12 innings of work. On June 20, Miley was placed on the injured list due to a left flexor strain.[38] He was transferred to the 60-day injured list on July 31.[39]
He throws four main pitches with an occasional fifth. The main four arefour-seam fastball andtwo-seam fastballs (ranging from 88–92 miles per hour (142–148 km/h)), aslider (79–82 miles per hour (127–132 km/h)), and achangeup to right-handed hitters (80–81 miles per hour (129–130 km/h)). The least commonly thrown is acurveball in the mid-upper 70s, mostly against right-handers. His favored off-speed pitch with two strikes is the slider.[40]
Miley has been an avidhunter since the age of three. Growing up inLouisiana, Miley was a fan of theAtlanta Braves.[1] He currently spends his off-season on his ranch nearAustin, Texas.[41]
Miley and his wife, Katy, have one child, a son who was born in September 2016.[42]
In June 2025, Miley was accused in court documents of having supplied pain pills containingoxycodone to fellow Major League pitcherTyler Skaggs, who died of an accidental drug overdose in 2019, and was found to have had oxycodone in his system at the time. Miley responded to the accusation by saying he had "never been accused of any wrongdoing."[43][44]
| Awards and achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher May 7, 2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | NL Rookie of the Month April 2012 | Succeeded by |
