Miller's major-league debut with Cubs was short, but sweet
Tyson Miller's major league debut didn't last long. He pitched two innings of Game 2 against the Cardinals on Monday, giving up a 2-run homer in the second.
"The debut itself, it was special for sure," said Miller, who will return to South Bend and await the next chance. "But I feel like the next time I'm here and there's fans it will be like a second debut.
"I started calling people on the drive to Chicago from South Bend. I could hear my dad get a little teary-eyed. My mom was really excited, my grandma and grandpa. All my college buddies back home, I texted them."
Miller has spent some of his time in South Bend working on a two-seam fastball and change, looking for pitches that will break inside to a right-handed hitter. He described the scene in South Bend after Monday's start.
"The morale is high," Miller said. "Our apartments are in left field, so we just walk to the field every day. Get in, get our stuff done. They don't want us lingering around too much and be around other players as little as we can.
"It's kind of like spring training, just the games are against ourselves. We're watching the games every day, seeing if anything happens. We saw these doubleheaders and a lot of guys in my shoes were feeling ready."
Cubs pitching coach Tommy Hottovy had nice things to say about Miller, who split time between Double A Tennessee and Triple A Iowa last year.
"One thing you saw with Tyson a lot last year, very unique movement to his pitches," Hottovy said. "But everything for the most part moved gloveside. His cutter, curveball, slider, changeup - all those things were moving away from a right-handed hitter. One thing we wanted to work on was have things that could break arm side, a two-seam fastball and more of a two-seam changeup as well. He threw some of both (Monday)."