Rookie right-hander Mason Miller, a uncommon brilliant spot for the A’s this season and the franchise’s potential future ace, is headed again to Oakland after experiencing tightness in his throwing elbow.
The 24-year-old Miller held the Seattle Mariners hitless for seven innings on Could 2, his third large league begin, after which adopted that up Sunday by permitting 5 hits and two runs with 5 strikeouts in six innings at Kansas Metropolis on Sunday. Miller felt tightness in his elbow throughout his outing in opposition to the Royals, supervisor Mark Kotsay informed reporters on Monday earlier than the A’s opened a three-game sequence in opposition to the Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
“Relatively than wait, he’s not scheduled to pitch for 4 days, we’re going to ship him again to Oakland and have him get evaluated tomorrow,” Kotsay mentioned. “From our finish, and simply the trainers doing the analysis, it seems to be extra to be like a flexor muscle versus anything. However we’re going to undergo the method to find out (what’s flawed.)
“It’s powerful to take a position, however we’re hoping for one of the best.”
It’s already been a tough season for the A’s and their followers. The group arrived in New York with an 8-27 file, on tempo to surpass the 1962 New York Mets for the worst file in trendy historical past, possession final month introduced it has bought land in Las Vegas for a possible ballpark as a part of its relocation menace, and over the weekend one of many group’s tv broadcasters was suspended indefinitely for saying a racial slur on the air. Heartbroken followers are also reeling from the dying Saturday of Nineteen Seventies franchise icon Vida Blue, barely three months after former A’s captain Sal Bando.
Miller, a third-round decide within the 2021 draft, made simply 11 appearances within the minors earlier than making his large league debut on the Coliseum on April 19 in opposition to the Cubs. He missed most of final season due to a scapula pressure in his proper shoulder, however cemented his prime prospect standing by dazzling within the Arizona Fall League.
Miller, whose fastball commonly hits triple digits, has a 3.38 ERA with 22 strikeouts in 21 1/3 innings in 4 begins with the A’s.
The A’s have been cautious with Miller due to his well being historical past in addition to his long-term worth to the franchise. In opposition to the Mariners, he was lifted after pitching a 1-2-3 seventh inning and a no-hitter intact. He had thrown 100 pitches, his highest whole as a professional.
Kotsay mentioned of the transfer on the time, “I feel the most important issue is his future. The second issue is he hasn’t had a sport the place he’s pitched over 5 innings. The third one can be (that he’s had) 28 minor league innings, and his future is far more vital the one sport.”
Miller mentioned, “I completely perceive it. I’d quite throw many extra video games this season than lay it on the road for a sport at first of Could.”
Miller threw 98 pitches in opposition to the Royals and completed robust, retiring the ultimate 5 batters he confronted. He capped the outing by getting a swinging strikeout.
The A’s have already got used 9 starters this season, and Miller is the one one with an ERA beneath 5.00. historical past. Total, A’s starters are 2-17 with a 7.70 ERA. The ERA is the best within the majors (Reds, 6.40) and no different group has fewer than 5 wins from its rotation.