Monday, June 19, 2017

NEW YORK - Western Oregon junior pitcher Brady Miller was selected by the Chicago Cubs as the 705th overall selection in the 23rd round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft on Wednesday (June 14).
 
"I'm speechless," Miller said after his selection. "I'm very blessed to be given a chance to play for such a great organization. Hard work does pay off if you stick towards a goal and put in countless hours of work. If you believe in yourself, then anything is possible."
 
Miller, a native of Gilbert, Ariz., was named to the All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference First Team after racking up a team-tying high five wins in 10 starts (5-2 overall), recording a 3.50 ERA and one complete game along the way. Miller's last two outings were some of his best work, striking out 17 batters in 14 innings, including a nine-strikeout performance in the GNAC Baseball Championships title game on May 12. He was the team leader with 54.0 innings pitches and 57 strikeouts.

Miller is a back-to-back first-teamer and a three-time All-GNAC selection, including being named the league's Freshman of the Year in 2015 and Pitcher of the Year in 2016.
 
"We are excited for Brady," WOU head coach Kellen Walker said. "He has a great stuff and has always had aspirations of playing at the next level. It's great for the program as well to have another guy that will have the opportunity to play professionally."
 
In five seasons at Western Oregon's head coach, Walker has produced two MLB Draft selections, including Spencer Watkins, who was selected by Detroit in the 30th round of the 2014 draft.