The Cubs call right up Tyson Miller to make his Major League debut, manager David Ross announced in reports today (Twitter link via Gordon Wittenmyer of NBC Sports Chicago). He will start last night’s double header second game against the Cardinals. That command could have gone to the right Adbert Alzolay, but he picked up a ball from his forearm in a recent intrasquad game, it seems. Fortunately, Alzolay has escaped with just a bruise, but he is not yet ready to take the hill for the Cubs.
Miller, 25, was Chicago’s fourth rounder back in 2016 and is considered one of the better prospects in a thin Cubs system for the past few seasons. He broke through in 2019 by Double-A, pitching to a 2.56 ERA with 80 strikeouts against just 16 walks in 88 innings before being promoted to Triple-A. Things did not go well in the Pacific Coast League for Miller – which is true for most pitchers – because he was an obstacle to ambition for a 7.58 ERA in 48 2/3 frames. Miller was blown up 13 long balls in that short time after delivering just six in his 88 Double-A innings. Some of that has certainly been attributed to better opponents, but the Triple-A leagues used the same ball that produced MLB’s home court last season. (The lower levels of the lower league did not.)
Baseball America credits Miller for the best control of every pitching prospect in the Cubs’ system, marking him as a potential back-end starter. He ranks 14th in the system per BA and 25th at the top of MLB.com. Improvements to his interchange and an added curveball helped drive his success at Double-A last year, per BA.
Today’s exit figures are a starting point for Miller, who serves as the Cubs’ 29th man. He will be sent to the alternative site after going out. However, this will also serve as Miller’s first audition for a longer-term outlook with the team. Every fan Jon Lester, Jose Quintana en Tyler Chatwood will close the guaranteed portion of their contracts at the end of the season – Lester has a 2021 option – so there may be an opportunity for Miller and other young arms in the very near future.
