WAYNESBURG, Pa. (July 12) – Former Waynesburg University pitcher
Mason Miller (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) reached the pinnacle of his sport on Monday when he heard his name called in the third round of the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft. Miller was selected 97
th overall by the Oakland Athletics.
Miller was drafted out of Division I Gardner-Webb, which he transferred to after graduating from Waynesburg in 2020. The former first-team All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) selection not only saw mound time at G-W, but shined as the ace of the Runnin' Bulldogs' staff. In his one-and-only season in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, he went 8-1 with a 3.30 ERA and 121 strikeouts over 92.2 innings of work.
"I couldn't be any happier for Mason. Hard work and dedication make a great combination and Mason has both. They will serve him well on his journey," said Mike Humiston, who was Miller's head coach over his four years as a Yellow Jacket. "He'll have his chances to make an impact at the next level and all of us will be watching and praying for him."
Following two quiet seasons at Waynesburg, Miller established himself as a dominant force during his junior campaign. He started 11 games on the mound and finished with an 8-2 record, a 1.86 ERA and a Waynesburg single-season record 97 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. He led the PAC in ERA, strikeouts, strikeouts looking (25), opponent batting average (.173), complete games (six) and shutouts (four). He was twice named PAC Pitcher of the Week, lauded as a first-team All-PAC performer and gathered All-Region awards from both D3baseball.com and the American Baseball Coaches Association.
His 2020 season was off to a similar start before it was cut short by the Coronavirus pandemic. In two outings, Miller went 2-0 over two complete games (14 innings) with a 2.57 ERA, 24 strikeouts and a .160 opponent batting average. He was named Pitcher of the Week by the PAC during the first week of the season.
Miller's personal story of success has reached the national level as he has risen up team's draft boards. Prior to his junior campaign, Miller was diagnosed with Type 1 juvenile diabetes. After adjusting his diet in response to the diagnosis, Miller's 6-5 frame filled out with around 30 pounds of muscle that allowed his fastball to transform from a usable tool to a blistering 99 mph fireball that played a huge role in his eventual selection by Oakland.
Current Waynesburg head baseball coach and former Yellow Jacket pitching coach,
Perry Cunningham, had a front row seat to Miller's amazing transformation and ascension to an elite level.
"On behalf of the entire Waynesburg University baseball community, I would like to congratulate Mason on being selected in the 2021 Major League Baseball Draft by the Oakland A's," Cunningham said. "There are stories out about his health and the physical changes that have been documented and there are improvements that are easily recognized when looking at his year-to-year stats. However, his teammates, our coaching staff and I saw the work and effort that he put in every day. Mason was driven to improve and develop and he is now being rewarded for that dedication. We wish him nothing but the best of luck and look forward to following his journey."
