Ranking The Rockies: 18 Justin Miller

We at BSN Denver are running a series where we rank how valuable each of the Colorado Rockies’ 51 players was to the team in 2015. Value was calculated by statistics, viewing, and how memorable each player’s contributions were. The rankings will be from last to first, you may view the full rankings (here)

Player: Justin Miller

Stats: 34 G, 33.1 IP, 3-3, 4.05 ERA, 0.960 WHIP, 2.62 FIP, 116 ERA+, 10.29 K/9, 2.97 BB/9, 7 Holds, 1 SV, 0.7 WAR

Big Moment: Sep 7-11, the Colorado Rockies right-handed reliever Just Miller has been good through his first 22 innings in purple pinstripes. But in the next three games the 28-year old took it to another level. On the seventh, Miller got the ball with the Rockies leading the Padres in San Deigo 6-4 in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded Miller strikes out Wil Myers to end the inning. In the seventh inning, Miller strikes out the side in order. The Rockies won 6-4 and Miller got a hold. On the tenth Miller got the ball in Petco Park once again, this time the Rockies were tied in the seventh with the Padres. And again Miller struck out every batter he faced, three up, three down. Daniel Descalso hit a home run in the eighth and the Rockies won 4-3. On the eleventh, Miller got the ball aginst the slugging Nelson Cruz and he struck him out. The Rockies would win in Seattle 4-2 with Miller getting his eighth straight strikeout (Rockies franchise record). Over that stretch of three games, Miller recorded a win and two holds while facing eight batters and striking out every one of them.

Season Recap: His strikeout streak was one of the highlights of the Rockies 2015 season, but he was pretty good besides that too. He started the season in Double-A and was moved to Triple-A in early May. Between the two levels, he pitched 38 innings recording seven saves, 43 strikeouts while posting a 1.89 ERA. He first joined the Rockies in June, but it wasn’t until late-July that he solidified his spot on the active roster. In the month of September, he threw 12 innings facing 39 batters, striking out 18 of them, while only walking one. In that 13 game stretch, he only allowed one earned run and two hits.

What’s Ahead: The Rockies 47th round pick in 2006 (didn’t sign), got his first action with the Rockies big club in 2015 and was good. He has survived a few rounds of 40-man roster cuts and he will most likely compete for a bullpen role late into Spring Traning. he is a cheap option for the Rockies who are in need of effective relievers.