ABQ
Owen Miller, IF
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Scouting report
Part of the Mike Clevinger return from the Padres, Miller is the latest in a long line of small, physically generic Midwestern college infielders who it turns out can really hit. A minimalistic swing enables him to make high rates of contact, while the strength in Miller’s hands generates doubles power. It’s not an exciting, athletic style of hitting but on an inoffensive, fundamentally sound defensive shortstop, it’s a pretty interesting skillset. Barring a significant swing change, Miller’s offensive output will likely cap his ceiling near the 45 FV range, but for a third round pick who moves quickly, that’s a great outcome. Miller is arguably polished enough to play in the big leagues in 2021, and with the club's shortstop and first basemen struggling to hit early on, he may need to. If Cleveland ends up with a one-year stopgap, Miller doesn’t have to be put on the 40-man until December of next year, so even though he’s a polished hitter with upper-level experience and could feasibly be called upon to provide above-replacement-level reps in the event that Cleveland’s middle infield is beset by injury, he doesn’t have to occupy a valuable 40-man spot until it is absolutely necessary. (Alternate site, Fall Instructional League)