Wade Miller

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #3 prospect in 1999
  Background: Miller made just 10 starts in 1998 because he had minor surgery to relieve scar tissue on a tendon in the middle finger of his right hand. He was set to pitch in Venezuelan this winter, but the Astros changed those plans when Miller experienced shoulder soreness from overthrowing before his first start. Strengths: When healthy, Miller throws a live 95 mph fastball and a hard, tight slider that freezes hitters. Despite pitching only one year of college baseball and having less than 300 innings of professional experience, Miller has excellent command and an advanced feel for pitching. Weaknesses: Neither of Miller's 1998 injuries are regarded as serious. But he lost about 100 innings of development time and still could use work on his changeup. The Future: Scott Elarton, Mike Hampton, Jose Lima and Shane Reynolds all pitched in the bullpen before starting for Houston. A strong spring training and a quick Triple-A start could put Miller on the same track.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #6 prospect in 2000
  The three U.S. players ahead of Miller on this list all were first-round picks. Miller went 19 rounds later in 1996, when astute Astros scout Mike Maggart stayed on him even after the pitcher dropped out of Alvernia (Pa.) College. Miller reached the big leagues three years later, and may have joined the Houston rotation for good this July. Miller has a varied repertoire that serves him well. He can reach the mid-90s with a four-seam fastball, and he hits the low 90s and achieves a lot of sink with a two-seamer. Miller also throws a hard slider, an occasional curveball and has been working on a changeup to combat lefthanders. Lefties hit him much easier than righthanders, especially for power.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #69 prospect in 2000
• Ranked Baseball America's #80 prospect in 1999
• Ranked Baseball America's #76 prospect in 1998

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The three U.S. players ahead of Miller on this list all were first-round picks. Miller went 19 rounds later in 1996, when astute Astros scout Mike Maggart stayed on him even after the pitcher dropped out of Alvernia (Pa.) College. Miller reached the big leagues three years later, and may have joined the Houston rotation for good this July. Miller has a varied repertoire that serves him well. He can reach the mid-90s with a four-seam fastball, and he hits the low 90s and achieves a lot of sink with a two-seamer. Miller also throws a hard slider, an occasional curveball and has been working on a changeup to combat lefthanders. Lefties hit him much easier than righthanders, especially for power.
• December, 1998 Scouting Report
  Background: Miller made just 10 starts in 1998 because he had minor surgery to relieve scar tissue on a tendon in the middle finger of his right hand. He was set to pitch in Venezuelan this winter, but the Astros changed those plans when Miller experienced shoulder soreness from overthrowing before his first start. Strengths: When healthy, Miller throws a live 95 mph fastball and a hard, tight slider that freezes hitters. Despite pitching only one year of college baseball and having less than 300 innings of professional experience, Miller has excellent command and an advanced feel for pitching. Weaknesses: Neither of Miller's 1998 injuries are regarded as serious. But he lost about 100 innings of development time and still could use work on his changeup. The Future: Scott Elarton, Mike Hampton, Jose Lima and Shane Reynolds all pitched in the bullpen before starting for Houston. A strong spring training and a quick Triple-A start could put Miller on the same track.