The Oakland Athletics will place Mason Miller on the 15-day injured list with a fractured pinkie on his left hand, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. He’s the corresponding move to activate Ross Stripling from the 15-day IL. Gallegos says that Miller suffered the injury when he pounded a padded training table in frustration after Oakland’s win over the Houston Astros on Monday. It’s not clear how long Miller will be out for, but the fracture is on his non-throwing hand. The injury could eliminate the possibility of the right-hander being dealt at the trade deadline.
A’s to Place Mason Miller on Injured List
Despite being a rookie, Miller has been one of the most speculated names in the rumor mill. The A’s were long shots to trade Miller, especially since they have control of his contract for the next five seasons. That allows Miller to go through the arbitration process four times, becoming a free agent in the 2029-30 offseason. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported earlier this week that Miller was “out of play” on the trade market. Olney’s report came yesterday, while Miller’s injury was on Monday, per Gallegos- or if they didn’t find appealing offers.
Miller emerged as one of the best closers in baseball and continues to light up hitters on the mound, posting a 2.21 ERA in 34 appearances with 15 saves. He leads all major league relievers with 70 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings. Miller put his talent on full display during the All-Star Game last week, breaking the record for fastest pitch in All-Star Game history with a 103.6 mph heater. He concluded his outing with consecutive strikeouts to Trea Turner and Shohei Ohtani. Miller became the third pitcher to earn the win in an All-Star Game, joining Spec Shea (1947) and Dean Stone (1954), both for the American League.
Main Photo: © Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
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