Bryce Miller makes strong first rehab start in Triple-A

Aug 1, 2025, 11:58 PM | Updated: Aug 2, 2025, 4:35 pm

Seattle Sports

Seattle Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller took major step forward in his recovery from elbow issues that have limited to just 10 starts this season.

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Miller worked efficiently through four innings Friday night pitching for the Triple-A Tacoma Rainiers in his first rehab start since landing on the injured list for a second time this season. The right-hander surrendered only one hit, walked none and struck out six while tossing 52 pitches against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, a Triple-A affiliate of the Houston Astros. Miller was expected to be limited to about 55 pitches in the outing.

Perhaps the most encouraging sign from Miller’s outing was his four-seam fastball averaged 96.4 mph and sinker 96.3 mph. Those were up 1.9 mph and 2 mph from his previous season average, per Baseball Savant. His four-seamer topped out at 97.6 mph.

Miller relied heavily on the four-seamer, throwing it 33 times. He mixed in seven splitters and threw his sinker, sweeper, slider and knuckle curve three times apiece.

The 26-year-old Miller has been out of the Mariners’ rotation since June 10 while dealing with inflammation and a bone spur in his pitching elbow. It’s his second stint on the injured list due to the elbow issues this season.

Miller began the year in the Mariners’ rotation, but later revealed he’d been dealing with the elbow issues since before the season started. He made his first trip to the IL on May 14. Miller received a cortisone shot and had an MRI that revealed no structural damage to the elbow, which allowed him to return to the rotation 17 days later without a rehab stint. However, Miller allowed eight runs over nine innings in two starts and was placed back on the IL.

Miller threw his first live batting practice July 19 at T-Mobile Park. Seattle Sports Mariners insider Shannon Drayer reported Miller touched 97 mph with his fastball during the outing.

“I think velo was really good and felt really sharp,” Miller told reporters after the session. “First time seeing hitters in six weeks or whatever, so need to tighten some things up. I think that will come over the next few weeks. But overall, I think it feels really good.”

If his rehab progression goes well, Miller is expected to return to the majors some time this month. President of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto on Thursday said the plan is to make sure Miller’s pitch count is properly built up before a return to the majors.

“We’ll build the pitch count as opposed to some of what we’ve done through his last time (on the IL),” Dipoto said. “This time we are just going to be able to (focus on) building him up and making sure he’s ready to throw a full workload before we send him out there.”

Miller has a 5.73 ERA over 48 2/3 innings over 10 big league starts this season. The right-hander hasn’t recorded six innings pitched in any of his outings. Last season Miller led qualified Mariners starters with 2.94 ERA over a career-high 180 1/3 innings. His 3.4 WAR was also tops among Seattle starters.