Tony Miller
| AB | 1616 |
|---|---|
| AVG | .269 |
| OBP | .382 |
| SLG | .413 |
| HR | 43 |
- Full name Anthony Luther Miller Jr.
- Born 08/18/1980 in Elyria, OH
- Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Toledo
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Drafted in the 10th round (304th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2001.
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OF Tony Miller, better known at Toledo as a defense back prior to this spring, became dynamite in a small package on the diamond. He hit .368 while showing bat speed, a compact swing, good center field skills and 6.6-second speed in the 60-yard dash. He set a Rockets record with 29 steals this season.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Miller is younger than his 23 in baseball terms. A defensive back at Toledo, he hasn't put in as much time on the diamond as most players his age. Miller has the tools to be a center fielder who bats at the top of the lineup, but his game still needs refinement and a hyper-extended left knee in 2003 cost him half the year. If he perfects his bunting, he has a chance to be a .300 hitter. Compared to Cory Sullivan, he has more pop, more speed and more patience for drawing walks. Sullivan has an advantage in plate discipline and defensive ability. Miller gets good breaks on balls and has a slightly below-average arm. Coming off an impressive showing in instructional league last fall, he'll return to Double-A and try to make up for lost time. -
A defensive back at the University of Toledo, Miller has adjusted quickly to pro ball. In his first full season, he led the system in runs, walks and steals, a testament to his leadoff skills. He's a Marquis Grissom-type athlete who also will offer some pop atop a batting order. He's a hard worker who often works in the batting cage after games. Miller's inexperience shows against breaking balls, and he sometimes chases high fastballs. He also gets too pull-conscious at times. Miller has a strong arm for center field and the speed to track balls down. He does rely on his wheels a little too much at times, but he has started to take better routes. He could jump to Double-A in 2003, certainly at midseason if not on Opening Day. -
Miller was a defensive back at Toledo, but he knew his size dictated that his professional athletic career would be in baseball. He's a tools player who's still raw because he didn't focus on baseball in college. Miller's raw speed and willingness to draw walks make him a potential leadoff hitter, though he still needs to work on his offensive approach. He needs to smooth out the mechanics of his batting stroke and make more contact. He set the Toledo single-season record for steals with 29 last spring and can be an exciting player on the basepaths. He's still learning the nuances of stealing bases, such as how to get good leads. His mistakes come from aggressiveness. Miller has excellent range in center field and throws adequately. At his age, he needs to be challenged and should play this year in low Class A.
