San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller is making a name for himself with his performances. Some observers believe that Mason Miller is ‘breaking the sport’. His fastball and slider combination is proving difficult for opposing hitters.
Miller’s Impressive Strikeout Rate
Miller has faced 24 batters. Nineteen of those batters have struck out. Eighteen of those strikeouts were swinging strikeouts. His strikeout rate stands at 79.2%. If Miller sustains this strikeout rate over the course of the season, it would be a record.
Besides the strikeouts, Miller has allowed a walk and a single. The other plate appearances against him resulted in a pop-out, a groundout and a flyout.
One commentator noted that Miller is ‘as automatic as I can remember a pitcher being in one inning in our baseball-watching lives’.
The Fastball and the Slider
Miller’s fastball gets attention, understandable considering he throws it at 103 mph. However, Miller is throwing his slider more than his fastball. This is making life even more difficult for opposing hitters.
One commentator explained that hitters stepping into the box against Miller are thinking ‘This guy’s about to throw 104 mph. I have to be ready.’
Hitters are attempting to prepare for Miller’s velocity, but he’s throwing his slider more often. The result is that ‘Guys are just whiffing in ways that — even the best hitters — you’re not [used to] seeing them miss this badly on these sliders.’ Another added that ‘He’s making people look like Little Leaguers.’
From Waynesburg to the Padres
Miller pitched for four years at Waynesburg University. He then played his final college season at Gardner-Webb. One observer exclaimed they could not ‘wrap’ their mind around Miller’s career at Waynesburg.
It was noted that Miller didn’t transfer to a baseball powerhouse. From those origins, Miller has become ‘the most physically imposing, overpowering, dominant arm in the entire sport’.
One commentator noted that seeing Mason Miller come out of the bullpen in a packed stadium ‘fits what that guy is at this point in his care’.
How long can Miller sustain this incredible run? Only time will tell, but in the meantime, he is pitching meaningful innings for a team with its sights set on a postseason run.