Right-hander Bryce Miller is set to take a significant step forward in his recovery, as he prepares to begin a rehab assignment with Tacoma. His return creates an intriguing situation for the Seattle Mariners, who may soon have more quality starting pitchers than available rotation spots.
Miller made a lively return to T-Mobile Park on Friday, greeting reporters with his usual humor and relaxed personality. The outing marked his first appearance with the team since late February, when he suffered a left oblique injury shortly after his initial spring training start. Although this issue is unrelated to the elbow problems that limited him last season, it has still been a frustrating stretch for the young pitcher. As usual, Miller handled it with humor, joking about ending a long streak of staying injury-free.
During his time away, Miller didn’t add a brand-new pitch to his arsenal, despite searching for ideas. However, he did refine his existing repertoire, experimenting with his cutter and adjusting the grip on his slider. He credited Bryan Abreu of the Houston Astros for helping inspire the tweak. Miller hopes the updated slider will generate more swings and misses, an area he has been working to improve after past struggles. He believes this new version will be more reliable and forgiving, especially when thrown in different counts.
His rehab assignment will be carefully structured. Miller is expected to throw about two innings and roughly 30 pitches in his first outing, gradually increasing his workload over several starts. The plan is for him to pitch every sixth day, rotating between Tacoma and Everett while staying close to Seattle. This schedule allows the team to monitor his progress closely while easing him back into game action.
One of the key factors during his recovery has been how well his body responds after pitching. Earlier in the process, Miller experienced lingering soreness that slowed his progression. He described the rehab as inconsistent, with periods of strong performance followed by delayed recovery. Recently, however, that issue has subsided. According to general manager Justin Hollander, Miller has reached a point where he feels completely normal both during and after throwing sessions, a crucial milestone in his return.
Encouragingly, Miller’s velocity has remained intact throughout the process. His fastball has consistently reached the upper 90s during bullpen sessions, suggesting that his overall effectiveness should not be diminished once he returns. Instead, his focus now is on sharpening the finer details of pitching—things he missed during his limited spring training, such as working with a pitch clock, controlling baserunners, and executing pickoff moves. Teammate Logan Gilbert has already offered guidance in that area.
Beyond the physical side, the experience has also shifted Miller’s mindset. After dealing with multiple injuries in a short span, he has become more focused on preparation and recovery routines, aiming to control every aspect within his reach.
As Miller moves closer to rejoining the major league roster, the Mariners may soon face a challenging—but positive—decision. With Emerson Hancock performing well in his absence, the team could find itself with an abundance of capable starters. For now, however, the organization is content to let the situation play out, recognizing that having too many effective pitchers is a rare and welcome dilemma.
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