Wade Miley

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2012
  A supplemental first-round pick who signed for $887,000 in 2008, Miley struggled in his first 1½ pro seasons. After improving his conditioning, he was the system's most improved player in 2010 and continued on that path in 2011. He jumped from Double- A to the majors, going 4-2 in seven starts as the Diamondbacks overtook the Giants for the National League West title in September. Miley throws his fastball, which ranges from 88-94 mph and sits at 91-92, at an angle that makes it tough on hitters. His fastball command can be an issue at times but has improved. He has three effective secondary pitches, though they sometimes lack consistency. His changeup is a plus pitch at times but he doesn't always use it enough. He throws two breaking pitches, with his slider better than his curveball, and both can get slurvy. He does the little things well, such as handling the bat, fielding his position and holding runners on base. Miley profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter with his four-pitch mix, and he'll contend for a starting job in spring training. Arizona has more talented arms coming up behind him, so he'll likely get pushed to a swingman or middle-relief role in the future.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #8 prospect in 2011
  No Diamondbacks farmhand improved as much in 2010 as Miley, a supplemental first-round pick two years earlier who signed for $887,000. After his stuff and prospect status began to slip in 2009, he hired a trainer for the offseason. The improvement in his conditioning and confidence showed as he took his game to another level after a midsea-son promotion to Double-A, and Arizona considered him for a big league promotion. Miley's fastball dipped to 87-88 mph at times in 2009, but he pitched at 92-93 last year and spiked as high as 96. He uses his 79-83 mph slider as a strikeout pitch, though it gets a little slurvy at times. His changeup flirts with being a plus pitch, improving as he threw it more and with better arm speed. Miley also throws a curveball, which is basically a softer version of his slider, and a cutter. He's still working to improve his command but showed more ability to pitch deep into starts in 2010. He's athletic and fields his position well. If Miley can prove that the strides he made at Mobile were for real, he could get his first big league callup in 2011. Arizona needs pitching, and he'll be just one level away in Triple-A.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #15 prospect in 2010
  Miley was one of four Louisiana prep lefties in 2005 who became supplemental first-round picks. Beau Jones (Braves) and Sean West (Marlins) signed out of high school, while Miley and Jeremy Bleich (Yankees) went in the sandwich round after three years of college. Signed for $887,000, Miley spent most of his first full-season in low Class A. His reviews, like his performance, were inconsistent. At his best, he showed three quality pitches in a 90-91 mph fastball that touched 93, a promising low-80s slider and a solid changeup with some fade and sink. At other times, his fastball sat at 87-88 mph, his slider became slurvy and his changeup lacked deception because he slowed his arm speed. Miley needs to do a more consistent job throwing strikes and locating his pitches, especially inside against righthanders. He throws across his body, which makes him deceptive but detracts from his command. Miley has the upside of a No. 3 starter but also could wind up as a reliever. He should reach
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #5 prospect in 2009
  Miley was part of a banner crop of Louisiana high school lefties in 2005, as he, Jeremy Bleich (Yankees), Beau Jones (Braves) and Sean West (Marlins) all became supplemental first-round picks. Miley spent three years at Southeastern Louisiana before signing for $877,000 in 2008. His 119 strikeouts last spring trailed only big league alumni Kirk Bullinger and Jeff Williams (125 each) as the most in Southeastern Louisiana history. At his best, Miley offers three above-average pitches. His slider is his calling card and allows him to neutralize righthanders. His fastball ranges from 89-92 mph and can touch the mid-90s, though he's better off at lower velocity with more movement. His changeup shows flashes, and he threw a curveball in college as well. He's athletic and played center field in high school. Miley endured a heavy workload last spring, pitching 102 innings, so the Diamondbacks took it easy with him. He threw just 11 innings at short-season Yakima and mostly worked on the side during instructional league. His main focus for the coming year will be improving his fastball command and getting his delivery under control. Assuming he can tighten up his command, Miley has the well-rounded arsenal and durability to become a No. 3 starter in the big leagues. He'll crank up his pro career at one of Arizona's Class A affiliates this year.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: A supplemental first-round pick who signed for $887,000 in 2008, Miley struggled in his first 1 1/2 pro seasons. After improving his conditioning, he was the system's most improved player in 2010 and continued on that path in 2011. He jumped from Double-A to the majors. Scouting Report: Miley throws his fastball, which ranges from 88-94 mph and sits at 91-92, at an angle that makes it tough on hitters. His fastball command can be an issue at times but has improved. He has three effective secondary pitches, though they sometimes lack consistency. His changeup is a plus pitch at times but he doesn't always use it enough. He throws two breaking pitches, with his slider better than his curveball, and both can get slurvy. He does the little things well, such as handling the bat, fielding his position and holding runners on base. The Future: Miley profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter with his four-pitch mix, and he'll contend for a starting job in spring training. Arizona has more talented arms coming up behind him, so he'll likely get pushed to a swingman or middle-relief role in the future.
• December, 2010 Scouting Report
  Background: No Diamondbacks farmhand improved as much in 2010 as Miley, a supplemental first-round pick two years earlier who signed for $887,000. After his stuff and prospect status began to slip in 2009, he hired a trainer for the offseason. The improvement in his conditioning and confidence showed as he took his game to another level after a midseason promotion to Double-A, and Arizona considered him for a big league promotion. Scouting Report: Miley's fastball dipped to 87-88 mph at times in 2009, but he pitched at 92-93 last year and spiked as high as 96. He uses his 79-83 mph slider as a strikeout pitch, though it gets a little slurvy at times. His changeup flirts with being a plus pitch, improving as he threw it more and with better arm speed. Miley also throws a curveball, which is basically a softer version of his slider, and a cutter. He's still working to improve his command but showed more ability to pitch deep into starts in 2010. He's athletic and fields his position well. The Future: If Miley can prove that the strides he made at Mobile were for real, he could get his first big league callup in 2011. Arizona needs pitching, and he'll be just one level away in Triple-A.
• December, 2008 Scouting Report
  Miley was part of a banner crop of Louisiana high school lefties in 2005, as he, Jeremy Bleich (Yankees), Beau Jones (Braves) and Sean West (Marlins) all became supplemental first-round picks. Miley spent three years at Southeastern Louisiana before signing for $877,000 in 2008. His 119 strikeouts last spring trailed only big league alumni Kirk Bullinger and Jeff Williams (125 each) as the most in Southeastern Louisiana history. At his best, Miley offers three above-average pitches. His slider is his calling card and allows him to neutralize righthanders. His fastball ranges from 89-92 mph and can touch the mid-90s, though he's better off at lower velocity with more movement. His changeup shows flashes, and he threw a curveball in college as well. He's athletic and played center field in high school. Miley endured a heavy workload last spring, pitching 102 innings, so the Diamondbacks took it easy with him. He threw just 11 innings at short-season Yakima and mostly worked on the side during instructional league. His main focus for the coming year will be improving his fastball command and getting his delivery under control. Assuming he can tighten up his command, Miley has the well-rounded arsenal and durability to become a No. 3 starter in the big leagues. He'll crank up his pro career at one of Arizona's Class A affiliates this year.