© Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Closer Mason Miller Throws Pure Gas, Is Striking Out Batters at a Crazy Rate
The Oakland A's are an organization in disarray right now but the actual on-field product really isn't that bad. They took the series opener against the New York Yankees, 2-0, on Monday afternoon to move to 9-14 on the year. Starting pitcher JP Sears was stellar, scattering three hits over six scorless innings while striking out seven. Oakland turned things over to Mason Miller in the ninth and the fireballer continued to impress as he struck out the side with some flat-out gas.
Miller dusted Anthony Volpe and Juan Soto on 103 mph fastballs and then pumped a 102 mph four-seamer past Aaron Judge.
If you're thinking, hey, I bet trying to make contact with something traveling at such a rate of speed is probably pretty difficult, then congratulations on your powers of deduction. Just take a look at this angle of Miller firing seeds toward the plate and tell us that seems like a good time for anyone in the general vicinity of the batters' box.
Miller, a third-round pick in 2021, appeared in 10 games for the A's last season and appears to have made quick a jump in 2024. The only two earned runs he's allowed in 10 innings came in his first outing and in the midst of a non-competitive game. He's since closed out five games and carries a 1.80 ERA. Most impressively, he's racked up 20 strikeouts in his 10 innings of work to put his SO9 at an astounding 18.0.
