Jai Miller Stats & Scouting Report

AB	68
AVG	.235
OBP	.288
SLG	.368
HR	2

Full name Randall Jai Miller
Born 01/17/1985 in Auburn, AL
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Selma
Debut 06/22/2008
Drafted in the 4th round (113th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2003 (signed for $250,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Miller warrants a spot on this list almost on sheer perseverance alone. The first three-sport all-star athlete in Alabama high school history, he turned down a Stanford scholarship to sign for $250,000 as a fourth-round pick in 2003. His stock steadily dipped as he failed to hit better than .209 in any of his first four pro seasons. Too many strikeouts were the problem, too many holes in his swing. To his credit, Miller has kept working to tighten up that swing and close those holes. The result is an on-base percentage that steadily climbed from a low of .273 in 2004 all the way to the .360 figure he posted in 2009. Miller can now take pitches out over the plate to the opposite field with authority. He has plus raw power, plus speed and keeps getting more reliable in center field, where his routes are no longer an adventure. He has more arm strength than most center fielders, though his accuracy wavers. He's still learning how to translate his quickness into stolen bases. Some in the organization still see him as a late bloomer with Mike Cameron characteristics. Should Cameron Maybin falter in center yet again, Miller could be there to pick up the pieces.
The first three-sport all-state athlete in Alabama high school history, Miller was headed to Stanford as a wide receiver and basketball guard until the Marlins signed him for $250,000 as a fourth-round pick in 2003. He never hit better than .209 in any of his first four pro seasons, but something seemed to finally click for him and he took a huge step forward in 2007. The five-tool threat made strides with his plate discipline, began to drive balls with more authority and appeared more confident in all areas of the game. The owner of as much bat speed as anyone in the organization, Miller learned to stay back on pitches and drive the ball to right-center. Timed at 4.1 seconds to first base from the right side of the plate, he's still learning to use his plus-plus speed on the bases. He has plenty of range and a strong arm in center field, though he must continue to improve his routes and the accuracy of his throws. His doubters still wonder whether Miller isn't merely the next Reggie Abercrombie, a tools-laden player whose skills never fully transferred to the diamond, and he still has work to do with his bat. But the Marlins are more than willing to be patient while they await the answer. After earning a trip to the Arizona Fall League and a spot on the 40-man roster, Miller figures to open the year in Triple-A.
The first three-sport, all-state athlete in Alabama prep history, Miller could have gone to Stanford as a football wide receiver and basketball guard. Instead, he decided to sign with the Marlins for $250,000. His mother and grandmother were killed in a car crash when he was younger, but that tragedy only made him stronger. His resolve has been tested through consecutive years at low Class A Greensboro, where he has hit a combined .306. He led the South Atlantic League with 163 strikeouts in 2004 and finished second with 139 a year ago. Nevertheless, Florida stills like his athleticism and intelligence and insists he could become a Preston Wilson type of high-risk, high-reward offensive threat. Working closely with hitting instructor John Mallee, Miller increased his walk total as he spread out his stance, moved closer to the plate and eliminated a lot of the excess movement in his swing. He did a better job of keeping his hands inside the ball as a result. Miller has a strong arm but needs to improve his accuracy and routes in the outfield. His jumps and leads need work on the bases, but he has been timed at 4.1 seconds to first base from the right side. A third straight year at Greensboro is possible, but once things start to click he could move fast.
The first three-sport, all-state athlete in Alabama prep history, Miller was headed to Stanford as a wide receiver and basketball guard until the Marlins signed him for $250,000 on draft night. Miller's mother and grandmother were killed in a car crash when he was younger, but he overcame that tragedy. Wowed by his tools, the Marlins pushed him up the ladder in his first full professional season and he struggled against low Class A competition. He handled his share of fastballs but fared poorly against what became a steady diet of breaking balls. He made progress with his pitch recognition by season's end and will return to low Class A in 2005. He now understands the importance of maintaining strong work habits and the grind of a long season. He has a strong arm but has an unusual grip and release that causes his throws to fade off line at times. His routes need work and he has a tendency to drift on balls. He doesn't project as a high-average hitter but should develop gap power with the chance to hit 15-20 homers a year. He lacks the first-step quickness and instincts that could make him a basestealing threat but he is a plus runner once he gets rolling. He has been timed at 4.1 seconds to first base from the right side. His makeup is sound, but there were times when he openly pined for football and basketball.
The first three-sport all-state athlete in Alabama prep history, Miller was headed to Stanford as a wide receiver and point guard. The Marlins signed him for $250,000, in large part because area scout Dave Dangler had established a strong relationship with Miller's father. Miller's mother and grandmother were killed in a car crash, but he overcame that tragedy and impressed Marlins officials with his intelligence and positive outlook. Miller may already have the quickest bat in the organization. He projects as a five-tool talent who reminds some of Preston Wilson. His makeup and work ethic are both pluses. A 70 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale, Miller has been timed at 4.05 seconds to first base from the right side. Miller is raw in every way. He must refine his approach at the plate and use his legs more. Defensively, he is fine going back on balls and chasing them to either side but needs to get better at coming in. He has a strong arm but has to improve his technique. He'll open his first full season in low Class A. Once his experience starts to catch up with his raw talent, he could take off.

Minor League Top Prospects

The 6-foot-4, 195-pound Miller was going to play wide receiver at Stanford until the Marlins took him in the fifth round of this year's draft. Because he didn't play much baseball in high school Miller is raw, but his upside is considerable. "He could become another Preston Wilson," Rodriguez said. "He's got all five tools and has an incredible work ethic. Defensively, he catches everything easily. His mechanics were off a bit at the plate and he's a long way from being a polished hitter, but he's got a lot of bat speed. It's just going to take time." Miller showed flashes of power potential while compiling a .199 average. "He hit five balls in the last two weeks of the season that might have been home runs a year from now," Marlins manager Tim Cossins said. "He just needs to fill out and work on his approach to hitting."