Seattle Mariners GM Gives Update on Status For Starting Pitcher Bryce Miller

SEATTLE — One of the Seattle Mariners' starting pitchers is starting to take steps toward a return.

Third-year hurler Bryce Miller has been on the injured list since June 10 (retroactive to June 7) due to right elbow inflammation. It's his second time on the injured list this season due to that ailment.

According to a pregame interview with Mariners general manager Justin Hollander before the team's game against the Kansas City Royals on Monday, Miller is starting to progress toward being activated off the IL. He's begun a light throwing progression, but hasn't returned to mound work. Hollander said there's "no changes" in Miller's original timeline for return.

Miller's original prognosis had him out 4-6 weeks, which would place his return sometime around mid-July, and then there's rehab time after that.

Miller was one of the best pitchers in the American League the second half of 2024, but his elbow inflammation has been a consistent struggle that's plagued his on-field performance this year. His inflammation is related to a bone spur in the back of his elbow, which he can't have operated on without missing the rest of the season.

Miller's first IL stint was May 14-31. He received a cortisone shot before being placed on the shelf the first time, and he and Seattle hoped that the struggles would be behind him.

Miller didn't respond to the cortisone shot the way the team, or he, hoped and was placed back on the IL two starts later. He received another injection before being placed on the injured list again, this time a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection.

Miller has posted a 5.73 ERA this season with 39 strikeouts in 48.2 innings across 10 starts. He had a 2.94 ERA with 171 strikeouts in 180.1 innings across 31 starts in 2024.