Draft Spotlight: 1B/OF A.J. Miller
May 29, 2018
Casa Grande HS 1B/OF A.J. Miller came onto the scene at the 2017 Area Codes and immediately was seen as a left-handed hitter with a good hit tool and potential to develop the power tool. Having the feel for hitting is a priority for scouts as opposed to having power but a questionable hit tool.
Miller is a 6-foot-2 210-pound corner player with the body type and loose actions that suggest he not only is strong but he has flexibility and a great chance to continue to get stronger and yet maintain his agility and flexibility. He started the season with a fairly regular following of scouts, just hoping to maybe see how the power was starting to play within keeping a good approach at the plate.
He is best when committing to driving the ball to the opposite field gap but as it can be with a lot of young players with some notoriety or eyes toward the draft, sometimes they can develop an in-between approach. For the team, a player wants to be what got him to his success and then on the other side there are the expectations or hopes to perform for scouts.
The end of the season was not as great as Miller would have hoped, but as they say, it only takes one scout to like a player enough. I had a few conversations this spring with scouts about Miller, so I know that despite maybe not putting up the huge numbers he would have liked, he is still held in high regard. A .352 season average with 18 extra base hits is certainly a good season, especially if you understand how hard it is to hit at Miller's home park, where the wind is always blowing in and can knock down bolts of lightning. Just ask national home run phenom Spencer Torkelson, also a Casa Grande grad. Players have to learn to hit at Casa. When they get to a more fair park, then the power starts to show up.
Defensively he will have to settle in at a spot. He spent time in right field and at 1st base and frankly, I could see 3rd base as a possibility down the road. Spending time at one spot, whether in pro ball or in college (he is an Oregon signee), will greatly enhance his defensive abilities.
Let’s take a closer look at A.J. Miller.
