Scouting Report

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

Miller entered 2025 riding the momentum of a breakout 2024 season in the Tigers system and a spot in the Double-A Erie rotation alongside Troy Melton, among others. He started feeling back tightness early in the season, struggled to find the root cause of it and never really got going. After a rehab setback, he was diagnosed with hip issues -- first on the left, then on the right -- that required hip labrum surgery to repair. The Tigers added him on the 40-man roster in the middle of his rehab to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, a hint at how highly Detroit regards him.

When Miller is right, he creates deception from a three-quarters arm angle with a quick delivery. His fastball tops out in the mid-90s and sits more in the 93-mph range, but has good carry that sneaks up on hitters. His low-80s slider generates a high whiff rate with good spin, and his sweeper produces a good amount of movement. His changeup is a good swing-and-miss offering when he’s locating his fastball. He was also working on a sinker during his rehab from hip surgeries to complement the four-seamer. He became a more aggressive strike-thrower during his breakout 2024 season and looks to continue that.

Miller has the opportunity to become this year’s version of Melton or Ty Madden, rising from Double-A to a brief stop at Triple-A to the big leagues for the stretch run. But he has to get back on the mound first, then get comfortable with how he’s delivering with two surgically repaired hips. Like Melton, Miller is comfortable as a starter or a reliever, but the Tigers will work him as a starter in the Minors.

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

While Jackson Jobe and Jaden Hamm were the pitching stars of the Tigers’ farm system in 2024, arguably no hurler in the organization did more for his stock than Miller, an eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Valparaiso who saw his pro career delayed by injuries in 2023. He began 2024 as a reliever at Single-A Lakeland but earned a rotation spot and dominated, rolling off seven straight wins and racking up strikeouts. He advanced to High-A West Michigan in a piggyback role, then made a spot start for Double-A Erie before going to the Arizona Fall League, where he gave up damage but posted a 24-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 16 2/3 innings.

Miller produces a lot of deception without a ton of velocity from his three-quarter delivery with an arsenal based around his 92-93 mph four- and two-seam fastballs with movement. His slider is a wipeout pitch with late action, and his changeup is difficult for right-handed hitters to pick up, with both producing high whiff rates. He shows solid command and an aggressive mentality, though the Tigers have yet to stretch him out far as a starter.

The tricky part with evaluating Miller is determining what role he fills on a Major League team. He has the potential to become an impact reliever, but the Tigers want to see how far he can go as a starter. A back injury kept him from picking up from that momentum for much of 2025.

Awards

AFL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
11/10/2024

FSL Post-Season All-Star

Year	Team
2024

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/06/2026	Detroit Tigers optioned LHP Jake Miller to Toledo Mud Hens.
	11/18/2025	Detroit Tigers selected the contract of LHP Jake Miller from Erie SeaWolves.
	10/01/2025	Erie SeaWolves activated LHP Jake Miller from the 60-day injured list.
	09/10/2025	LHP Jake Miller assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
	08/30/2025	Erie SeaWolves sent LHP Jake Miller on a rehab assignment to Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	07/29/2025	Erie SeaWolves transferred LHP Jake Miller from the 7-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
	04/29/2025	Erie SeaWolves placed LHP Jake Miller on the 7-day injured list.
	04/29/2025	Erie SeaWolves placed LHP Jake Miller on the 7-day injured list.
	03/06/2025	activated LHP Jake Miller.
	09/25/2024	Erie SeaWolves activated LHP Jake Miller.
	09/25/2024	LHP Jake Miller assigned to Scottsdale Scorpions.
	09/15/2024	Erie SeaWolves transferred LHP Jake Miller to the Development List.
	09/15/2024	Erie SeaWolves transferred LHP Jake Miller to the Development List.
	09/12/2024	LHP Jake Miller assigned to Erie SeaWolves from West Michigan Whitecaps.
	08/07/2024	LHP Jake Miller assigned to West Michigan Whitecaps from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	04/10/2024	LHP Jake Miller assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers.
	03/30/2024	LHP Jake Miller assigned to FCL Tigers from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	09/18/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated LHP Jake Miller from the 7-day injured list.
	09/18/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated LHP Jake Miller from the 7-day injured list.
	08/10/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers placed LHP Jake Miller on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 9, 2023.
	07/30/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated LHP Jake Miller from the 7-day injured list.
	07/13/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers sent LHP Jake Miller on a rehab assignment to FCL Tigers.
	07/13/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers sent LHP Jake Miller on a rehab assignment to FCL Tigers.
	07/13/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers sent LHP Jake Miller on a rehab assignment to FCL Tigers.
	06/15/2023	Lakeland Flying Tigers placed LHP Jake Miller on the 7-day injured list.
	04/27/2023	LHP Jake Miller assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers.
	04/03/2023	LHP Jake Miller assigned to FCL Tigers from Lakeland Flying Tigers.
	08/12/2022	LHP Jake Miller assigned to Lakeland Flying Tigers from FCL Tigers.
	08/12/2022	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated LHP Jake Miller.
	08/12/2022	Lakeland Flying Tigers activated LHP Jake Miller.
	08/05/2022	LHP Jake Miller assigned to FCL Tigers.
	07/21/2022	Detroit Tigers signed LHP Jake Miller.