The Southern Illinois Miners have announced the signing of former Traverse City Beach Bums reliever Matt Miller. Miller spent the past three seasons with the Beach Bums.
“I am very excited to add Matt to our club”, said Miners manager Mike Pinto. “He has been very successful in important late in the game situations the last three seasons His playoff experience is invaluable to us and I am looking forward to him being one of the leaders in our bullpen this season.”
In 2013, Miller went 2-4 with a 2.18 ERA in 35 appearances for the Beach Bums. In 53 2/3 innings pitched, he recorded 38 strikeouts and only walked 14 batters. He gave up 40 hits and only allowed 23 runs (13 earned).
In 76 appearances over the last two seasons, he set his earned run average at 2.38 and only allowed three home runs in 144 innings pitched throughout his career. He also has a career WHIP of 1.00.
Miller pitched at Eastern Illinois University from 2008 until 2011. He served as the Panthers closer in 2010 and 2011 recording nine career saves. In 2011, he recorded seven saves in 28 appearances. He struck out 35 batters in 38 innings and held opponents to a .241 average against.
