Tyson Miller

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #27 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Miller was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round out of Division II California Baptist following a dominant showing in the Cape Cod League the previous summer. He progressively made his way up the minors and took a step forward at the Cubs' alternate training site in 2020, leading to his major league debut in August.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Miller is a big, sturdy righthander who generates lots of natural movement on his pitches. His 90-95 mph fastball features natural cutting action and late ride at the top of the strike zone, and he backs it up with a true cutter in the upper 80s that also plays at the top of the zone. Miller mostly relies on those two pitches. He has a low-to-mid-80s slider that cuts late and a changeup, but both are fringy-to-below average offerings. Miller struggled with his control in the majors but was efficient in the minors with above-average control. He avoids barrels and generates soft contact more than swings and misses.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs used Miller as a spot starter/long reliever in his debut. He'll try to force his way into a larger role in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Chicago Cubs #12 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: When Miller was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft he became the highest-drafted player in California Baptist's history, topping the 2014 seventh-round selection of Trevor Oaks. He put together a solid first three seasons in pro ball, including a 2018 season when he struck out 126 hitters. That total ranked third-best among Cubs minor leaguers. He continued that progress in 2019, when he blitzed the competition at Double-A Tennessee before running into trouble after a promotion to Triple-A Iowa.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Miller's pitch mix and approach have changed as he's moved through the system. In prior years he'd worked a sinker-slider combination, but he added or adjusted a changeup and curveball before the 2019 season and saw big results. The new repertoire allows him to work up in the zone with a low-90s fastball with riding action and follow it with a downer curveball to both sides of the plate. He still throws the slider, which functions as a short cutter and projects as a fringe-average pitch. The changeup, which he throws with a Vulcan-style grip that best fits his hands, also should be fringe-average with more development. He also needs to continue to work to keep his upper and lower halves in sync in his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Miller was hit hard at Triple-A and figures to return there in 2020. He projects as a backend starter.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #197 prospect in 2016 draft
  Miller pitched Cal Baptist to the Division II West regional final, pitching on three days' rest after winning the regional opener. The listed 6-foot-5, 200-pounder should become the highest-drafted player in school history, topping 2014 seventh-rounder Trevor Oaks (Dodgers). Miller, who struck out 29 in 25 Cape Cod League innings last summer, maintained his prospect status this season by throwing plenty of strikes with a 91-93 mph fastball that can reach 96. He's more of a groundball pitcher than a power guy, with an above-average low-80s slider that can miss bats but also induces weak groundball outs. His changeup needs fine-tuning to be an average pitch. Miller, who was throwing in the mid-80s in high school, has matured nicely and still could have a bit more left in the tank. He's expected to be picked in the first five rounds.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Miller was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round out of Division II California Baptist following a dominant showing in the Cape Cod League the previous summer. He progressively made his way up the minors and took a step forward at the Cubs' alternate training site in 2020, leading to his major league debut in August.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Miller is a big, sturdy righthander who generates lots of natural movement on his pitches. His 90-95 mph fastball features natural cutting action and late ride at the top of the strike zone, and he backs it up with a true cutter in the upper 80s that also plays at the top of the zone. Miller mostly relies on those two pitches. He has a low-to-mid-80s slider that cuts late and a changeup, but both are fringy-to-below average offerings. Miller struggled with his control in the majors but was efficient in the minors with above-average control. He avoids barrels and generates soft contact more than swings and misses.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs used Miller as a spot starter/long reliever in his debut. He'll try to force his way into a larger role in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Miller was drafted by the Cubs in the fourth round out of Division II California Baptist following a dominant showing in the Cape Cod League the previous summer. He progressively made his way up the minors and took a step forward at the Cubs' alternate training site in 2020, leading to his major league debut in August.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Miller is a big, sturdy righthander who generates lots of natural movement on his pitches. His 90-95 mph fastball features natural cutting action and late ride at the top of the strike zone, and he backs it up with a true cutter in the upper 80s that also plays at the top of the zone. Miller mostly relies on those two pitches. He has a low-to-mid-80s slider that cuts late and a changeup, but both are fringy-to-below average offerings. Miller struggled with his control in the majors but was efficient in the minors with above-average control. He avoids barrels and generates soft contact more than swings and misses.
  
  THE FUTURE: The Cubs used Miller as a spot starter/long reliever in his debut. He'll try to force his way into a larger role in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: When Miller was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft he became the highest- BA GRADE 50 Risk: High BA GRADE 45 Risk: Medium BA GRADE 50 Risk: High drafted player in California Baptist’s history, topping the 2014 seventh-round selection of Trevor Oaks. He put together a solid first three seasons in pro ball, including a 2018 season when he struck out 126 hitters. That total ranked third-best among Cubs minor leaguers. He continued that progress in 2019, when he blitzed the competition at Double-A Tennessee before running into trouble after a promotion to Triple-A Iowa.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Miller’s pitch mix and approach have changed as he’s moved through the system. In prior years he’d worked a sinker-slider combination, but he added or adjusted a changeup and curveball before the 2019 season and saw big results. The new repertoire allows him to work up in the zone with a low-90s fastball with riding action and follow it with a downer curveball to both sides of the plate. He still throws the slider, which functions as a short cutter and projects as a fringe-average pitch. The changeup, which he throws with a Vulcan-style grip that best fits his hands, also should be fringe-average with more development. He also needs to continue to work to keep his upper and lower halves in sync in his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Miller was hit hard at Triple-A and figures to return there in 2020. He projects as a backend starter.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: When Miller was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 draft he became the highest-drafted player in California Baptist's history, topping the 2014 seventh-round selection of Trevor Oaks. He put together a solid first three seasons in pro ball, including a 2018 season when he struck out 126 hitters. That total ranked third-best among Cubs minor leaguers. He continued that progress in 2019, when he blitzed the competition at Double-A Tennessee before running into trouble after a promotion to Triple-A Iowa.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Miller's pitch mix and approach have changed as he's moved through the system. In prior years he'd worked a sinker-slider combination, but he added or adjusted a changeup and curveball before the 2019 season and saw big results. The new repertoire allows him to work up in the zone with a low-90s fastball with riding action and follow it with a downer curveball to both sides of the plate. He still throws the slider, which functions as a short cutter and projects as a fringe-average pitch. The changeup, which he throws with a Vulcan-style grip that best fits his hands, also should be fringe-average with more development. He also needs to continue to work to keep his upper and lower halves in sync in his delivery.
  
  THE FUTURE: Miller was hit hard at Triple-A and figures to return there in 2020. He projects as a backend starter.