Scouting Report

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Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Miller entered the spring as a big, intriguing high school right-hander in California, but most felt he perhaps needed to head to college to reach his potential. With increased velocity and improved stuff, not to mention athletic bloodlines, his name rapidly moved up boards as his senior season unfolded, giving him the chance to be the first Newbury Park High School product to go in the top five rounds since Andrew Lambo was a fourth-rounder back in 2007.

The 6-foot-6 Miller has a loose, though not super-fast arm, one that has been delivering a consistently better repertoire this spring. His fastball has excellent movement down in the zone and he’s been up to 96 mph with the pitch. His slider has also gotten better with more consistent action as an 81-84 mph short, hard breaking ball. He has feel for a low-80s changeup as well.

Some scouts feel Miller could have a plus heater and two above-average secondary offerings in the future, with the chance to become a durable innings-eater in a big league rotation. He’s around the strike zone and is super-competitive on the mound. The fact that his father, Mike, played in the NFL doesn’t hurt in terms of dreaming of what he can do athletically, with the only question being if he can be signed away from his UCLA commitment.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

The son of former NFL wide receiver Mike Miller, Cole took his athletic talents to baseball. He was viewed as an intriguing right-hander from Newbury Park High School in Southern California whose raw stuff likely needed further development at the college level, but by the end of his junior season, an uptick in velocity and overall improved stuff led to him committing to nearby UCLA. It took an over-slot $1 million signing bonus as a 2023 fourth-round Draft pick for the A’s to move him off that commitment. He was set to make his pro debut in 2024 until an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery derailed those plans. After continuing his rehab this spring, he finally made his organizational debut in June.

The A’s were working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller prior to his injury. His electric fastball ticked up to 96 mph in high school and displayed excellent movement down in the zone. The mid-80s slider is a hard breaker and was showing signs of improvement. His low-80s changeup showed some potential as an average third pitch.

There was real excitement within the organization for Miller’s professional debut. His three-pitch mix and large 6-foot-6 frame give off the potential of a workhorse-type starting pitcher in the big leagues. The A’s also loved the competitiveness they saw from him on the mound while scouting him. After an unfortunate delay, he finally got his first opportunity to make an impression this summer.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Miller entered the 2023 high school season viewed as an intriguing, raw high school right-hander who likely needed further development at the college level. By the end of the season, though, an uptick in velocity and overall enhanced stuff, along with some athletic bloodlines -- his father, Mike, was an NFL wide receiver -- boosted him up Draft boards. The A’s took him in the fourth round in 2023, going over slot to sign the UCLA commit for $1 million, making him the first Newbury Park (Calif.) HS product to go in the top five rounds since Andrew Lambo was a fourth-rounder back in 2007. He was set to get his pro career started in 2024 but went down with an elbow injury this spring that required Tommy John surgery.

Before the injury, the A’s had been working on some mechanical adjustments with Miller. He currently brings a fastball that was up to 96 mph in high school and has excellent movement down in the zone. His slider is improving as a hard breaking ball around 81-84 mph with more consistent action, and he has demonstrated good feel for his low-80s changeup.

Miller entered his pro debut season carrying some buzz for his promising three-pitch mix that, along with his 6-foot-6 frame, gives him a good chance to develop into a durable innings eater in the Majors. Lauded for being super-competitive on the mound, he will have to wait until 2025 look to make a strong first impression.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

When the 2023 high school season began, most saw Miller as an intriguing, but raw high school right-hander who might need college for development. His velocity and overall stuff all trended up and that, along with some athletic bloodlines, helped his name climb Draft boards. When the A’s took him in the fourth round, going over slot to sign him away from his UCLA commitment for $1 million, he became the first Newbury Park HS product to go in the top five rounds since Andrew Lambo was a fourth-rounder back in 2007.

The 6-foot-6 Miller has a loose, though not super-fast arm, one that delivered a consistently better repertoire this past spring. His fastball has excellent movement down in the zone and he was up to 96 mph with the pitch. His slider has also gotten better with more consistent action as an 81-84 mph short, hard breaking ball. He has feel for a low-80s changeup as well.

There’s belief that Miller could have a plus heater and two above-average secondary offerings in the future, with the chance to become a durable innings-eater in a big league rotation. He’s around the strike zone and is super-competitive on the mound. The fact that his father, Mike, played in the NFL doesn’t hurt in terms of dreaming of what he can do athletically.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	06/23/2025	RHP Cole Miller assigned to Stockton Ports from ACL Athletics.
	06/23/2025	Stockton Ports activated RHP Cole Miller.
	11/03/2024	ACL Athletics activated RHP Cole Miller from the full-season injured list.
	03/27/2024	ACL Athletics placed RHP Cole Miller on the full-season injured list.
	03/07/2024	Oakland Athletics Prospects activated RHP Cole Miller.
	08/05/2023	RHP Cole Miller assigned to ACL Athletics.
	07/17/2023	Oakland Athletics signed RHP Cole Miller.
	06/14/2023	RHP Cole Miller assigned to College Workout.
	07/18/2022	RHP Cole Miller and assigned to High School Workout.
	02/03/2022	RHP Cole Miller and assigned to Visiting Team.