Kurt Miller
Encyclopedia
Kurt Everett Miller is a former professional baseball
pitcher
. He played parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball
, between 1994 and 1999, for the Chicago Cubs
and Florida Marlins
. He also played in two seasons Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, 1999 and 2000, for the Hanshin Tigers
.
out of West High School
in Bakersfield, California
with the 5th overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft
. A little over a year later, he was traded to the Texas Rangers
with fellow pitching prospect Héctor Fajardo
for third baseman
Steve Buechele
. He spent nearly two seasons in the Rangers organization before being traded again, this time to the expansion
Marlins, again with another pitching prospect, this time Robb Nen
, for pitcher Cris Carpenter
.
, the Marlins' Triple-A farm team. He began the 1994 season with Edmonton as well, but was called up to the major leagues in June to replace the injured Mark Gardner in the starting rotation. He made his major league debut at age 20 on June 11 against the team that had drafted him, the Pirates. He gave up 7 runs on 9 hits in just 4 innings pitched
. He improved substantially in his next start, throwing 8.2 innings against the New York Mets
and giving up just 4 hits. However, after two more bad starts he was returned to the minor leagues.
Miller's minor league numbers in 1994 were not impressive, either. He won 7 games and lost 13 while posting an ERA
of 6.88. The next season, with the Marlins' new top farm club the Charlotte Knights
, Miller's numbers improved to 8-11 with a 4.62 ERA.
Miller began the 1996 season back in Charlotte, but he was called up in early May. After pitching one game in relief
, the first time he had appeared in the majors as a reliever and just his fifth professional relief appearance, he was moved back into the rotation to replace Chris Hammond
. His first start was a good one, giving up just one run in eight innings against the Colorado Rockies
, but after two less-successful starts he was sent back to the bullpen. He was subsequently returned to Charlotte in mid-July, where he returned to starting. He came back to the majors a month later, made two more starts, then spent September in the bullpen. In 26 major league games, Miller posted a record of 1-3 with an ERA of 6.80.
Miller spent most of 1997 in Charlotte, missing a chunk of the season due to an elbow injury. He returned to the Marlins to pitch 7 games in September, but gave up 8 runs in 7.1 innings. After the season, he was traded to the Cubs.
to start the 1998 season, and he responded with his best season at that level, going 14-3 with a 3.81 ERA. He was brought up to the majors in late September, and pitched four scoreless innings over three games. He made the 1999 Cubs out of spring training
, but pitched in just four games before suffering a ribcage injury. He came back to pitch in eight games in Iowa, and in June, he was allowed to go to Japan and sign with Hanshin.
Miller returned to starting with the Tigers, appearing in 11 games and posting a 2-4 record with a 5.98 ERA. The next season, the Tigers tried to use him as their closer
, and he posted 6 saves in his first 17 games, but he also gave up 15 runs on 17 hits and 11 walks with a 7.41 ERA. He was released after the season.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He played parts of five seasons in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, between 1994 and 1999, for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
and Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
. He also played in two seasons Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan, 1999 and 2000, for the Hanshin Tigers
Hanshin Tigers
The are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
.
Early career
Miller was drafted by the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
out of West High School
West High School (Bakersfield, California)
West High School is a Public school high school located in Bakersfield, California. The school serves about 2500 students in grades 9 to 12 in the Kern High School District...
in Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield, California
Bakersfield is a city near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley in Kern County, California. It is roughly equidistant between Fresno and Los Angeles, to the north and south respectively....
with the 5th overall pick in the 1990 MLB Draft
1990 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1990 Major League Baseball draft.-Background:The draft went a record 101 rounds, surpassing 1989's total of 88, and included a record 1,487 selections. The Astros led all clubs with 100 selections. Seattle was second with 75,...
. A little over a year later, he was traded to the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
with fellow pitching prospect Héctor Fajardo
Héctor Fajardo
Héctor Fajardo Nabaratte is a former Mexican major league baseball player. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers in a career that spanned 4 years, from 1991 to 1995.- Minor leagues :...
for third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Steve Buechele
Steve Buechele
Steven Bernard Buechele is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Buechele played from to for the Texas Rangers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Chicago Cubs. He joined the Rangers in after he was named the Tom Grieve Minor League Player of the Year...
. He spent nearly two seasons in the Rangers organization before being traded again, this time to the expansion
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
Marlins, again with another pitching prospect, this time Robb Nen
Robb Nen
Robert Allen Nen is a former Major League Baseball right-handed relief pitcher. He spent most of his career as a closer. He is the son of former major league first baseman Dick Nen. He currently works in the Giants' front office as a special assistant to General Manager Brian Sabean.Nen is best...
, for pitcher Cris Carpenter
Cris Carpenter
Cris Howell Carpenter is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He is an alumnus of the University of Georgia....
.
Marlins
Miller finished the 1993 season with the Edmonton TrappersEdmonton Trappers
The Edmonton Trappers were a minor league baseball team in the Pacific Coast League, ending with the 2004 season. Home games were played at Telus Field in downtown Edmonton, Alberta, Canada....
, the Marlins' Triple-A farm team. He began the 1994 season with Edmonton as well, but was called up to the major leagues in June to replace the injured Mark Gardner in the starting rotation. He made his major league debut at age 20 on June 11 against the team that had drafted him, the Pirates. He gave up 7 runs on 9 hits in just 4 innings pitched
Innings pitched
In baseball, innings pitched are the number of innings a pitcher has completed, measured by the number of batters and baserunners that are put out while the pitcher on the pitching mound in a game. Three outs made is equal to one inning pitched. One out counts as one-third of an inning, and two...
. He improved substantially in his next start, throwing 8.2 innings against the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and giving up just 4 hits. However, after two more bad starts he was returned to the minor leagues.
Miller's minor league numbers in 1994 were not impressive, either. He won 7 games and lost 13 while posting an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 6.88. The next season, with the Marlins' new top farm club the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
, Miller's numbers improved to 8-11 with a 4.62 ERA.
Miller began the 1996 season back in Charlotte, but he was called up in early May. After pitching one game in relief
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, the first time he had appeared in the majors as a reliever and just his fifth professional relief appearance, he was moved back into the rotation to replace Chris Hammond
Chris Hammond
Christopher Andrew Hammond is a former left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.Hammond was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in the sixth round of the amateur draft. Hammond had not sustained considerable success until his revival as a relief pitcher with the Atlanta Braves...
. His first start was a good one, giving up just one run in eight innings against the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
, but after two less-successful starts he was sent back to the bullpen. He was subsequently returned to Charlotte in mid-July, where he returned to starting. He came back to the majors a month later, made two more starts, then spent September in the bullpen. In 26 major league games, Miller posted a record of 1-3 with an ERA of 6.80.
Miller spent most of 1997 in Charlotte, missing a chunk of the season due to an elbow injury. He returned to the Marlins to pitch 7 games in September, but gave up 8 runs in 7.1 innings. After the season, he was traded to the Cubs.
Remaining career
Miller was assigned to the Triple-A Iowa CubsIowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
to start the 1998 season, and he responded with his best season at that level, going 14-3 with a 3.81 ERA. He was brought up to the majors in late September, and pitched four scoreless innings over three games. He made the 1999 Cubs out of spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
, but pitched in just four games before suffering a ribcage injury. He came back to pitch in eight games in Iowa, and in June, he was allowed to go to Japan and sign with Hanshin.
Miller returned to starting with the Tigers, appearing in 11 games and posting a 2-4 record with a 5.98 ERA. The next season, the Tigers tried to use him as their closer
Closer (baseball)
In baseball, a closing pitcher, more frequently referred to as a closer , is a relief pitcher who specializes in closing out games, i.e., getting the final outs in a close game. Closers often appear when the score is close, and the role is often assigned to a team's best reliever. A small number of...
, and he posted 6 saves in his first 17 games, but he also gave up 15 runs on 17 hits and 11 walks with a 7.41 ERA. He was released after the season.