Though the Los Angeles Dodgers were one week into 2019 Cactus League play, the team continued to tinker with their roster and organizational depth by signing Brad Miller to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training.
Miller made his Dodgers debut against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, and has gone on to appear in two more games. The latest of which came Friday night, which saw Miller batting sixth in the Dodgers lineup as the designated hitter.
He went 1-for-2 with a walk in the 7-5 loss, and has now reached base in four (two hits; two walks) of his first seven plate appearances with the Dodgers.
While Miller has yet to spend much time in camp with the team, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts raved about the utility infielder, via Cary Osborne of Dodger Insider:
“He’s interesting,” Roberts said. “I’ve seen Brad for years on the other side with the Mariners (where he played from 2013–15). He plays with a lot of energy. For him, to show value for us, he’s obviously a left-hand hitter, can play all over the diamond. … the move around the diamond, the energy .. could be a good fit.”
Miller has spent parts of six seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers. He is a career .239/.313/.409 batter with 75 home runs in 680 games.
In 75 games between the Rays and Brewers last season, Miller hit .248/.311/.413 with 13 doubles, seven home runs and 29 RBI. Miller’s best season came with Tampa Bay in 2016, when he batted .243/.304/.482 with career highs in home runs (30), doubles (29), RBI (83) and runs scored (71).
He’s primarily played shortstop in his Major League career but also has expansive experience at first base and second base, and some in the outfield.
