Miller Becomes Highest-Drafted Lancer

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - Tyson Miller became the highest-drafted player in California Baptist University baseball history during the 2016 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on Friday. The Chicago Cubs selected Miller, a junior, in the fourth round at 134th overall to make him the first NCAA Division II player off the board this year, as well. It extends CBU's streak of having a player selected in the MLB Draft to seven years in a row. Twenty-seven Lancers have been drafted over the last 34 years, with 16 players taken during Coach Gary Adcock's 13-year tenure. There are currently four active Lancers in the minor leagues: Caleb Dirks, Adam Hofacket, Trevor Oaks and Sharif Othman. Pitchers continue to be the hottest commodities coming out of CBU and into the professional ranks. Sixteen of the Lancers' 27 drafted players have been hurlers, with nine of Adcock's 16 drafted working off the mound, as well. Oaks was the Lancers' previously highest-picked player in the MLB Draft, going in the seventh round to the Los Angeles Dodgers at 219 overall. The 6-foot-4 Miller was listed as "tall and projectable, with loose actions and a lean, athletic body" by MLB.com's prospect page. He boasts a fastball up to 93 miles per hour, with a slider and changeup in the mix, as well. With his skill set, he went far earlier than the 189th ranking he received from MLB.com on its top-200 prospect list. Should Miller not return for his senior season, he would go out as one of the premiere pitchers in Lancer history. His 237 career strikeouts rank third all-time in the program, while his 23 wins, 2.71 earned-run average and 272.1 innings pitched each rank fourth in the career ranks. Miller posted a 2.27 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 92 strikeouts and a .232 batting average over 107 innings this past year. He ranked 27th in all of NCAA Division II in WHIP, 31st in ERA, 35th in wins (9) and 46th in strikeouts. As a result, the La Quinta native and Shadow Hills High graduate earned All-PacWest first-team honors and was named to all three NCAA Division II All-West Region teams, with a first-time award from the Conference Commissioner's Association.