Spanish Springs senior pitcher is program’s third Div. I prospect in two years
He doesn’t like attention. He didn’t even have a Twitter account – an offense that flirts with social sabotage for a teenager – until Wednesday.
Spanish Springs senior pitcher Casey Miller finally downloaded the immensely popular communication app with the final go ahead from mom and dad. Call it his way of getting used to attention.
The 6-4 right-handed hurler made the move after revealing that he will continue his baseball career next spring in state at the Div. I level, at UNLV.
“I’m not usually one that likes a whole bunch of attention, but I’ve worked hard,” Miller said. “It’s kind of paying off right now.”
Up until the last couple weeks, Miller, who said his fastball is topping out at 88 miles per hour, was planning to play in the Pacific Northwest at Central Washington University – an NCAA Div. II program in Ellensburg, Wash.
He had “a really generous offer” on the table. He started thinking bigger a month ago, following a camp in Boise. He threw a “pretty good” bullpen and one of the coaches in attendance reached out to the Rebels.
UNLV showed immediate interest, asking Miller to visit. He made the trip down to Las Vegas last weekend.
“I really liked all the coaches, the campus was beautiful and I met some of the players and they all seemed really friendly,” Miller said. “So, I felt it was a really good fit.”
He didn’t chew on the decision long, officially committing on Wednesday.
Spanish Springs senior P Casey Miller has been offered a preferred walk-on spot at UNLV & has committed. Third Div. I Coug in two years.
— Nathan Shoup (@Trib_Shoup) February 22, 2017
Because UNLV had already assembled its recruiting class, there was not an available scholarship. Instead, Miller has been guaranteed a roster spot as a preferred walk-on and hopes to earn a scholarship his sophomore season.
With his commitment, be became the third Spanish Springs baseball player in two years that will play at the Div. I level. Ryan Anderson, a 2016 grad, is a freshman pitcher at Nevada. He threw in three of the Wolf Pack’s first four games in Texas last weekend.
Senior catcher Josh Prizina will also play at Nevada.
“I think that’s pretty amazing,” Miller said. “I think our coaching staff has done a really good job and it really all starts in, like, Cal Ripken. This area has been growing really quickly and everyone is doing a really good job preparing us for the next level. I think there’s going to more (Div. I) players to come.”
At UNLV, Miller will get to work with one of the smartest pitchers to ever toe the rubber. Greg Maddux, 50, joined the Rebels staff as an assistant in the fall.
The 23-year vet in the only pitcher to win four-straight Cy Young awards and win at least 15 games in 17-consecutive seasons. He also won 18 Gold Gloves, a record.
UNLV went 24-32 last spring, finishing fourth in the seven-team Mountain West.
Miller and the Cougars start their season Thursday, March 9, with a non-league game against San Ramon Valley (Danville, Calif.) at Reno High.
The most recent Rebel commit said he doesn’t feel any additional pressure will come with the label of Div. I recruit.
“I don’t think they (teammates) are going to have any higher expectations,” Miller said. “They know I’m going to work hard, even before this. It’s all still going to be pretty normal.”
Normal, out of the spotlight, just the way he likes it
Leave a Reply