Nationals’ Drew Millas Works Himself Into Hitter’s Counts

The way 25-year-old catcher Drew Millas has hit since last fall, he has every reason to believe in his ability.

The switch-hitter was off to a .381/.500/.571 start with two home runs through 13 games at Double-A Harrisburg after he posted an .825 OPS in 15 Arizona Fall League games.

“It’s just about being confident in myself—being the aggressor and being focused in on what the pitcher is trying to attack me with,” Millas said.

Within the Nationals organization, Millas has worked on his hitting primarily with Tim Doherty, Micah Franklin and Joe Dillon. He spent time in big league camp this spring, going 2-for-8 with two walks and receiving a vote of confidence from Washington hitting coach Darnell Coles.

“I was really thankful for the words D.C. said to me in spring training,” Millas said. “It was good to hear that I’m on the right track.”

Last fall, Millas was able to keep working with Doherty and Franklin, who were part of the Surprise coaching staff. He also benefited from having a couple of weeks off after a regular season in which nagging wrist, hip and thumb injuries limited him to 62 games behind the plate.

Millas, an Athletics seventh-round pick in 2019 out of Missouri State, was part of the July 2021 trade that sent big leaguers Yan Gomes and Josh Harrison to Oakland. He has long had a reputation as an athletic, above-average defensive catcher. 

“He’s come out blazing this year,” Nationals farm director De Jon Watson said. “He’s catching well and he’s healthy. He’s done a good job re-establishing himself.”

Doherty, the hitting coach for Harrisburg, said of Millas: “Drew’s approach has really been the difference-maker. He’s making much better decisions at the plate and really working himself into a lot of good hitter’s counts.”

Millas said his father Andy, who played football at Missouri Southern, has also had a major impact on the development of his swing. Millas’ mother Nel was a basketball point guard at Missouri State.

“From the time I started college, I could tell it was the spot where I wanted to be,” Millas said. “The people in that program are hard-nosed and they grind it out. That’s something I’ll never take for granted.”

CAPITAL GAINS

— Low-A Fredericksburg outfielder Daylen Lile was another early-season standout. A 2021 second-round pick out of Trinity High in Louisville, he missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. The 20-year-old started .302/.392/.535 in 43 at-bats. “I like his approach, how he’s attacking the game every day,” Watson said. “He’s being a really good teammate and showing quiet leadership.”

— High-A Wilmington righthander Kyle Luckham, a 15th-rounder last year out of Arizona State, had an 0.82 ERA and .195 opponent average with 14 strikeouts and two walks through 11 innings, including his first two professional starts. “He’s throwing up zeroes right out of the draft,” Watson said.