Miami Marlins 2020: Brian Miller

Throughout the 2018/2019 offseason, Marlin Maniac will devote one article each for every player who appeared in the Miami Marlins system for the 2018 season. Every. Single. Player. This is Part 20…of 286. Stay tuned.

Brian Christopher Miller is a 6’1″, 186 lb. outfielder from Raleigh, NC. Born on August 20th, 1995, Miller was the supplemental first round pick of the Miami Marlins in 2017. He signed for a $1,888,800 bonus with the 36th overall selection.

30 players who were selected 36th overall have eventually made their way to the major leagues. They’re led by Randy Johnson (1985, Montreal Expos, 101.1 career WAR) and Johnny Bench (1965, Cincinnati Reds, 75.2). Former and current Miami Marlins include Jarrod Saltalamacchia (2003, Atlanta Braves, 6.0), Chris Coghlan (2006, Miami, 0.2), Nate Rolison (1995, Marlins, -0.3), and Blake Anderson (2014).

The Marlins expect a top-of-the-order type of outfielder out of Miller, in the mold of Brett Butler. According to the MLB Pipeline:

Miller’s ceiling is that of a top-of-the-order tablesetter in a big league lineup. He has a quick left-handed bat, an eye for drawing walks and a mature approach at the plate. He concentrates on making line-drive contact during games, and while there are some concerns about how much impact he’ll make with his bat, he flashes some raw power in batting practice, especially to his pull side.

In his three seasons playing for the North Carolina Tar Heels, Miller slashed .332/419/.453 in 169 contests, with 55 stolen bases in 68 attempts. He also drew 91 walks to just 80 strikeouts, demonstrating patience at the plate beyond his years. He was named to the 2017 ACC All-Conference team for his Junior season, during which he stole 24 bases and slashed .343/.422/.502 in 63 games, with seven home runs and 49 RBI in 310 plate appearances.

Miller joined the single-A Greensboro Grasshoppers in the South Atlantic League after his selection, and played in 57 games for them. He spent time at all three outfield positions, but mostly in center field. He made a total of two errors in 132 chances for a .978 fielding percentage. He slashed out a .322/.384/.416 line, with 21 stolen bases in 27 attempts, and added 17 doubles, 28 RBI, and 42 runs. He had 26 multi hit games, including six with three or more. On August 15th, he hit four doubles with four RBI and three runs scored in a 12-11 win against the Delmarva Shorebirds. So just a few months after making the ACC team, Miller was named a Miami MILB.COM organizational All-Star.

Ranked as the number 14 Miami Marlins prospect after his selection, Miller is now ranked 11th in the system.

More from Marlins Prospects

• Miami Marlins: Checking in on prospects from the 2022 Arizona Fall League
• Miami Marlins: How top 2022 MLB Draft picks performed this season
• What’s wrong with Kahlil Watson?
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 2
• Miami Marlins: Farm System rankings part 1

This season, MIller was started out with the high-A Jupiter Hammerheads in the Florida State League. In 62 contests, he slashed .324/.358/.398, with 19 stolen bases in 25 attempts and 29 RBI. After getting named to the FSL midseason all-star team, Miller was promoted to the double-A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, in the Southern League. At the higher level, Miller played in 66 games and slashed .267/.319/.313, stealing 21-of-28 bases and driving in 14. He had 42 multi hit games, including nine three-plus-hit affairs.

In a more-or-less “normal” season, I’d say that Miller will spend 2019 with the New Orleans Baby Cakes and make a challenge for a 2020 major league roster spot. In Miami, though, all bets are off. With a good spring, Miller could conceivably make the Miami Marlins opening day roster.

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