Tyler Miller, a corner infield prospect, is being promoted by the Red Sox from High-A Greenville to Double-A Portland, as reported by MiLB Central’s Chase Ford.
The 24-year-old Miller has been a part of Greenville since the 2023 season began. This year, the left-handed hitter batted in his first 36 games.During 140 plate appearances for the Drive, he hit 275/.321/.450 with nine doubles, one triple, four home runs, 17 RBIs, 16 runs scored, nine walks, and 28 strikeouts. He only hit.171/.194/.171 versus lefties and slashed.313/.365/.552 against right-handed pitchers.
Among 78 qualified hitters in the South Atlantic League this season, Miller ranks 23rd in strikeout rate (20 percent) and OPS (.771), 17th in batting average and slugging percentage, 21st in isolated power (.176), 20th in line-drive rate (26 percent), 28th in swinging-strike rate (10.7 percent), and 30th in wRC+ (119), per FanGraphs.
Conversely, in 2024 Miller has mainly divided his playing time between first and third base. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound player started 16 games at the hot corner and 18 starts at first base for Greenville, making six mistakes in 211 defensive opportunities overall. He hasn’t played all three outfield positions much either.
The Red Sox originally selected Miller, an Auburn graduate, in the ninth round of the 2021 amateur draft. Since signing for $157,800 that July, the native of Alabama has played in 268 games (1,106 plate appearances) across three different minor-league levels, posting a slash line of.252/.313/.400 with 29 home runs and 61 RBIs. SoxProspects.com does not presently rank him among the top 60 prospects.
Miller’s move to Portland could give the Sea Dogs more depth at first and third base when Blaze Jordan isn’t available. Jordan hasn’t been healthy since May 12 due to a fractured left ring finger sustained during an at-bat. Alex Binelas is the only player for the Sea Dogs other than Jordan who has played at both corner infield positions this season.
Miller is the first position player promoted to Portland from Greenville’s 2024 Opening Day roster; he turns 25 in December. It appears that the Red Sox released reliever Cody Scroggins to make room for Miller on the Sea Dogs’ roster, as reported by Chris Hatfield of SoxProspects.com.
