The Cincinnati Reds selected Simon Miller out of the University of Texas at San Antonio in the 12th round of the 2023 draft. He was the first Roadrunner drafted since 2019. He would only pitch in one game after being drafted, throwing a hitless inning with Daytona.
When 2024 began it was back to the Florida State League for Simon Miller as he joined the Tortugas bullpen. While his first outing of the year was just 0.2 innings, he began to pitch multiple innings with regularity after that. Through his first six outings he had allowed just two earned runs and covered 8.0 innings.
It was the next three outings that he had where he ran into some trouble for the first time as a professional. In the span of a week he allowed four earned runs – and at least one run in each of his three outings – in just 4.1 innings and he gave up the first home run of his career.
That would just be a short hiccup for the right-handed reliever. Over the next month he would pitch in six more games for Daytona and allow no runs on just two hits while striking out 13 batters in 8.0 innings. That run lowered his ERA with the Tortugas to 2.66 on the season and earned him a promotion to High-A Dayton.
Once he joined the Dragons bullpen, Simon Miller picked up right where he had left off. In his first five weeks with the club he threw 13.1 innings without allowing an earned run. During the final outing of July he gave up three runs to Fort Wayne in 2.0 innings. It would be another three weeks before he would give up another earned run – giving up two of them in 3.0 innings to Cedar Rapids. Miller didn’t give up a run in the final four outings of the season as he lowered his ERA to 1.47 with Dayton.
When all was said and done, Miller threw 51.0 innings in his 33 outings between Daytona and Dayton. During that time he posted a 1.94 ERA and picked up 13 saves while giving up just two home runs among 30 hits allowed and he struck out 64 of the 208 hitters that he faced.
Opponents hit just .167/.267/.244 against Miller on the year. Among relievers in full-season leagues in the Reds organization, Miller ranked 3rd in average against, on-base percentage against, and slugging percentage against. His .511 OPS against was the best in the organization among the full-season relievers and his 13 saves were 2nd best. The 30.5% strikeout rate that he posted was 6th best.
While Simon Miller didn’t lead the organization in many categories, he was among the leaders in nearly every category. All of that combined earned him this award over several other relievers who also had outstanding seasons.
Simon Miller’s 2024 Stats
