Mason Miller, the hardest-throwing pitcher in baseball, is on his way to San Diego in exchange for Leo De Vries, one of the most promising young players in the game.
There are always huge, unexpected deals on the day of the trade deadline, and the A’s and Padres have given us a whopper. Star reliever Mason Miller is heading to San Diego along with lefty starter JP Sears in exchange for a package of prospects centered around Leo De Vries.
Miller is the hardest throwing pitcher in baseball. His fastball averages 101.1 mph and has reached as high 104.1 mph this season. In 103 career appearances spanning three seasons and 136 2/3 innings, he has a 3.16 ERA with only 81 hits allowed, and he has struck out 201 of the 539 batters he has faced. This season, he has a 3.76 ERA, but his peripheral statistics are much better, including his 2.86 FIP, 39.1% strikeout rate, and .159 batting average against.
While other relievers might have better surface stats, perhaps none in baseball was more coveted. The 26-year-old flamethrower has unmatched velocity and is only earning $765,000 this season.
