Pomeranz and Miller: Ships Passing in the Night

by Scott Sargeant, WFNY

In 2005, the Cleveland Indians’ top prospect was Adam Miller.  The 20-year-old flamethrower was coming off of a season which featured 152 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.95, some of which was amassed with the Kinston Indians, the franchise’s A+ minor league squad.

The big league team was just about to enter their window of contention, having won 80 games in 2004 - 12 more than they had a season prior.  Mark Shaprio was tasked with overhauling a roster full of players who were entering the twilight of their respective careers, and Miller was slated to be the man to help carry them to the promised land after a hopeful ascension through the team’s farm system.

Fast forward six seasons later and Miller, now 26-years of age, is once again a fixture in the Carolina League.  The oldest member of the Kinston Indians, Miller shares the same dream as all of his peers - though his road to present day is considerably marred compared to those he calls teammates.

Miller, he of the once bat-splitting fastball and seemingly unlimited potential, has not been among the league’s top prospects since before the 2009 season.  Several stints on the disabled list and two full seasons without throwing one pitch within the confines of an actual game, he shares a roster with what many hope can be what he should have been.  Drafted in the first round in 2003, Miller joins Drew Pomeranz, taken in the first round seven seasons later.

Like Miller, Pomeranz is an intimidating mound-dweller, standing in a 6-feet-5-inches and tipping the scale at 230 pounds.  Also like Miller, Pomeranz is a top-75 prospect heading into his age-22 season.  But where the two men vastly differ are that said age-22 seasons could not have both men trending in different directions; Pomeranz, among the team’s best, Miller, on his way out of the game.

But righty out of Plano, Texas is giving it another shot.  Or, better put, the Cleveland Indians are giving him another shot; a chance to see if he can regain what could have been.  After all, he is - amazingly - only 26-years old. 

Following an extended spring training with players who have long since replaced him as “the future,” Miller has been assigned to the K-Tribe where he will attempt to rectify a career in any form or facet.  Following a multitude of operations on his right index finger, the hurler who had not pitched for a team since May, 2008 is giving it a (final?) whirl where he will pitch in relief. 

Through the first month of 2011, Pomeranz’ success is well-documented around these parts.  In what will likely be a short stay with Kinston, the towering lefty has thrown 23 1/3 innings of thirteen-hit ball, fanning 34 and walking seven.  Providing stark contrast since being promoted to Kinston, Miller has thrown one inning of relief where he has allowed four runs (three earned) on four hits and a walk, striking out one. 

Alas, rather than being a fixture within the Indians’ rotation for years on end, Miller is being prepared to take on a role within what is presently the fifth-best in the American League.  Rather than contending with players like Pomeranz, Mitch Talbot or Jeanmar Gomez, Miller will have to vie for a roster space with righties like Vinnie Pestano (0.82 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 11 innings) and Chris Perez (seven saves in eight opportunities) or even the left-handed Nick Hagadone (0.00 ERA, 18 strikeouts in 13.2 innings with Double-A Akron).

Sure, mathematically, Miller may have a better opportunity as being one of seven arms in a big league bullpen than he would as being one of five arms in a starting rotation.  Alas, a feel-good story as it stands, anything that Miller can provide the Kinston Indians will be a bonus.  Anything that he can provide the Cleveland Indians will be a miracle.

Scott is currently a contributing editor and writer for Waiting For Next Year, and covers everything from the Browns, to the Cavs, to the Tribe, to Osama Bin Laden's comparisons to, well, you know. Check out all his work here, and make sure you visit all the writers at WFNY while you're at it. Thanks Scott, for helping out IPI.

Follow Tony and the Indians Prospect Insider on Twitter @TonyIPI. Also, his latest book the 2011 Cleveland Indians Top 100 Prospects & More is available for purchase for $20.95 to customers in the US (shipping and handling extra).

Posted in: Adam Miller,Drew Pomeranz,Scott Sargent,Waiting For Next Year