Ryan Mills

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #30 prospect in 2002
  Drafted in the 13th round by the Yankees after an All-America high school career, Mills turned down $500,000 to attend Arizona State. He emerged as one of the best pitching prospects in the 1998 draft, going sixth overall. His father Dick reached the majors for two appearances in 1970, but he's better known as his son's pitching coach. Ryan became the poster boy for his father's business of selling pitching instruction and the focus of the company's videotapes. Ironically, his mechanics, which were considered textbook, have become the culprit for his demise since signing for $2 million. When Mills pitched the Sun Devils to the 1998 College World Series, he had a 92-95 fastball and a plus curveball. He has thrown 88-90 as a pro, and that was before he was shut down early in 2001 for surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. His command and confidence have dwindled, but the organization hasn't lost all hope for him. Perhaps the layoff will allow him to clear all of the mechanical concerns cluttering his head. Provided he's healthy, Mills will return to the Double-A rotation in 2002.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #17 prospect in 2001
  Mills, regarded as one of the most polished arms available in the 1998 draft, has yet to pan out as a pro. The Twins hoped he would take a quick path to the big leagues, but he was immediately beset by elbow problems, then endured a dreadful 1999. He rebounded briefly last season but pitched poorly after a promotion to Double-A and looked uninspiring in the Arizona Fall League. The Twins hold out hope that Mills will do an about-face similar to 1995 first-round pick Mark Redman's. Mills' stuff is better than Redman's at this stage, as he has more velocity and a better curveball, though an inferior changeup. Mills averages 89-91 mph and can touch 93 with his fastball, but he still has a long way to go if he's going to follow his father Dick to the major leagues.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #6 prospect in 1999
  Background: Mills, son of former big league pitcher Dick Mills and the Twins' top draft pick in 1998, was shut down soon after signing for a $2 million bonus with labrum problems in his throwing shoulder. Amid concerns that the Twins purchased damaged goods, Mills was able to rehab the injury without surgery and was throwing at his regular velocity without pain the last two weeks of instructional league. Strengths: Mills has the raw stuff and overall package to be a No. 1 starter. His fastball can reach 96 mph at times and is comfortable in the 92-93 range. He throws a plus curveball and good changeup along with a cut fastball that could be his out pitch against wood bats. Weaknesses: The Twins are hoping they dodged a bullet with Mills' shoulder injury. For a college pitcher, Mills has surprisingly not thrown a large number of innings and still needs a lot of work on pitching and fielding fundamentals. The Future: The Twins need a healthy Mills because they do not have another top-of-the-rotation starter in their system. They plan to build their future major league staff around him. He should start 1999 back at Fort Myers.