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Power surge: Miller enjoying career year
- Updated: August 11, 2016
ST. PETERSBURG — With a dirt-stained uniform and a smile on his face, Brad Miller jogged down the Tropicana Field tunnel. He fist-bumped the security guard holding the clubhouse door open for him, before quickly turning his attention to what waited inside for him.
Miller ran inside shouting, “Here I come,” loud enough for everyone inside and outside the room to hear him.
Miller had just blasted a game-winning, three-run homer to cap off a 3-2 win over Kansas City on Aug. 4 — the Rays’ eighth one-run win in 26 chances. Amid a lost season for Tampa Bay, Miller has had the best year of his career, finding an unprecedented amount of power. His blast against the Royals came during a five-homer week, and part of a two-month stretch where he’s hit 15 of his 20 home runs.
“I’ve been able to consistently drive the ball,” Miller said. “It’s taking good swings. It’s not necessarily a home run swing. If you take a good swing, you have a good path to the ball.”
Miller has been crushing his dingers this season. Among players with a minimum of 20 homers, Miller’s average home run distance is 415 feet from home plate, according to Statcast™. That ranks fifth in the Majors, just behind Carlos Gomez (428), Giancarlo Stanton (423), Trevor Story (422) and Nelson Cruz (417).
Last year with the Mariners, the average distance of Miller’s 11 home runs was 391 feet, with an average exit velocity of 102.8 mph, according to Statcast™. This year, his homers have an average exit velocity of 105.8 mph.
All but three of Miller’s …
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