Cole Miller Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Cole Miller
Born 05/02/2005 in Thousand Oaks, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Newbury Park (Calif.) HS
Drafted in the 4th round (103rd overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2023 (signed for $1,000,000).

View Draft Report

School: Newbury Park (Calif.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: UCLA
Age At Draft: 18.2
BA Grade:45/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 45.

Miller’s fastball sat in the low-90s on the high school showcase circuit last summer and into the fall, but his velocity ticked up this spring to help him emerge as one of the top high school pitching prospects on the West Coast. He posted a 1.34 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 10 walks in 41.2 innings as a senior while playing solid high school competition at Newbury Park (Calif.) High, whose long list of pro alumni includes Miller’s older brother, Jake, a righthander in the Guardians organization. Miller is a big righthander with a powerful 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame and growing stuff. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 95 with boring armside life out of an easy delivery and has room to keep ticking up as he gets stronger. His 80-84 mph slider has good depth when it’s timed up and flashes average potential, and he has feel for a nascent mid-80s changeup with solid deception. Miller has advanced pitchability for his age and throws strikes with ease to both sides of the plate, although he can get scattered when he tires. Miller can be a bit stiff in his delivery at times and he struggles to hold his stuff, leading to some concerns about reliever risk, but his physicality, room to add velocity and ability to throw three pitches for strikes makes him a starter for most teams. He boosted his stock with a strong showing at the draft combine after the season and has a chance to be selected late on the draft’s first day or early on the second day. He is committed to UCLA.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 50/Extreme

Track Record: One of several Thousand Oaks natives in Oakland’s system, Miller was a standout at Newbury Park High, like his older brother Jake, who is now a pitcher in the Guardians system. Cole was committed to UCLA, but a velocity spike moved him up draft boards during his senior spring. The A’s signed him for $1 million at no. 103 overall in the 2023 draft.

Scouting Report: The 6-foot-6 righty has a powerful frame with a low-90s fastball that touched 94-95 mph in spurts this spring. The A’s think he can ultimately sit in that range, with potential for even a tick or two more, as he continues to add functional strength. Miller’s fastball bores in on righthanded hitters and he throws it assertively to any quadrant of the zone. It pairs well with his low-80s breaking ball, which flashes average potential and slurve-like shape. He also shows feel for a mid-80s changeup. Miller repeats his delivery fairly well, but struggled to hold velocity deeper into outings as an amateur. There’s ample time for the 18-year-old to alleviate those concerns as he gets stronger and fills out his frame.

The Future: There’s a lot of projection left for Miller, who has back-of-the-rotation upside if his three-pitch mix comes together. He will make his professional debut in 2024.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45

Draft Prospects

School: Newbury Park (Calif.) HS Source: HS

Commit/Drafted: UCLA
Age At Draft: 18.2
BA Grade:45/Extreme
Tools:Fastball: 55. Slider: 50. Changeup: 45. Control: 45.

Miller’s fastball sat in the low-90s on the high school showcase circuit last summer and into the fall, but his velocity ticked up this spring to help him emerge as one of the top high school pitching prospects on the West Coast. He posted a 1.34 ERA with 60 strikeouts and 10 walks in 41.2 innings as a senior while playing solid high school competition at Newbury Park (Calif.) High, whose long list of pro alumni includes Miller’s older brother, Jake, a righthander in the Guardians organization. Miller is a big righthander with a powerful 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame and growing stuff. His fastball sits 90-92 mph and touches 95 with boring armside life out of an easy delivery and has room to keep ticking up as he gets stronger. His 80-84 mph slider has good depth when it’s timed up and flashes average potential, and he has feel for a nascent mid-80s changeup with solid deception. Miller has advanced pitchability for his age and throws strikes with ease to both sides of the plate, although he can get scattered when he tires. Miller can be a bit stiff in his delivery at times and he struggles to hold his stuff, leading to some concerns about reliever risk, but his physicality, room to add velocity and ability to throw three pitches for strikes makes him a starter for most teams. He boosted his stock with a strong showing at the draft combine after the season and has a chance to be selected late on the draft’s first day or early on the second day. He is committed to UCLA.