What to Expect from Cubs Trade Acquisition Tyson Miller

Miller was a fourth-round pick by the Cubs in 2016. The righty debuted in 2020 with the Cubs, making one start in two appearances. Now, he returns to be leaned on out of the bullpen. 

Miller is an extension pitcher, relying heavily on a fastball/slider mix. Think Yency Almonte and Richard Lovelady when considering the style of pitcher Miller is. 

Now, although that is the comparison, that doesn't mean he'll be as effective as Almonte or ineffective as Lovelady. That said, the two-pitch mix defines his arsenal, although he has thrown one curveball, one changeup, and one sinker in 2024. 

Miller's fastball sits around 90 mph, putting him in the lower tier of the league in terms of velocity. However, his slider is the real pitch the Cubs love. He generates a 35.4% chase rate, among the best in MLB. He is susceptible to walks, but largely hasn't been hit hard this season. 

The Cubs and Craig Counsell have familiarity with the righty. Miller had a cup of coffee with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. His pitch selection largely favors throwing on the outside of the zone, trying to knick the corners. He generates a good amount of chase in the upper-outside part of the zone and lower-inside part of the zone when throwing to righties. The slider is his chase pitch that he sets up with his fastball despite a lack of velocity. 

What We've Learned?

For starters, Miller confirms the Cubs have a type. Rather than vertical-breaking pitches that are becoming so favored in MLB (think Mark Leiter Jr.'s splitter), the Cubs are experimenting with pitchers who have high chase rates on their sweepers and rely more on horizontal movement. Yency Almonte is the perfect comparison to Miller, although Almonte possesses better velocity on his fastball. 

Miller will be expected to step in and contribute right away due to the number of injuries in the Cubs' bullpen. The group was already thin following the early injury to Merryweather and struggles from Alzolay, so Miller likely won't get eased in. This will be a fast, "thrown into the deep end" experience for Miller. Ideally, the Cubs know what he can improve on to get better, and he might become a low-risk move that pays off in a big way for the Cubs.