Corky Miller

Corky Miller
Miller with the Reds in 2009
Cincinnati Reds – No. 37
Catcher
Born: March 18, 1976 (1976-03-18) Yucaipa, California
Bats: Right	Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 4, 2001 for the Cincinnati Reds
Career statistics (through 2011)
Batting average	.188
Home runs	11
Runs batted in	59
Teams
Cincinnati Reds (2001-2004) Minnesota Twins (2005) Boston Red Sox (2006) Atlanta Braves (2007-2008) Chicago White Sox (2009) Cincinnati Reds (2009-2010)

Corky Abraham Phillip Miller [1] (born March 18, 1976 in Yucaipa, California) is a Major League Baseball catcher. His real given name is Corky and he was given two middle names (Abraham and Phillip).

College career

Miller was drafted by the California Angels in the 23rd Round (629th overall) of the 1994 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign, opting to attend the University of Nevada, Reno.

First stint with Reds

Miller signed with the Cincinnati Reds as an undrafted free agent in 1998. He made his major league debut in 2001, staying with the Reds through 2004.

Minnesota Twins

Miller played for the Minnesota Twins in 2005.

Boston Red Sox

He was signed by the Boston Red Sox on April 25, 2006, and added to the Pawtucket Red Sox Triple-A roster. Miller was promoted to Boston on August 5, 2006, but his tenure in Boston would not last long. After appearing in just one game (a 7-6 defeat against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on August 6, 2006), Miller would be designated for assignment on August 14, 2006, to make room for Craig Breslow, who was promoted from Pawtucket.

Atlanta Braves

Miller with the Braves in 2008.

Miller was granted free agency after the season and signed a minor league contract with the Atlanta Braves.

On July 31, 2007, the Braves called up Miller to fill up the backup catcher role after previous backup catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia was traded that day. He made his debut on August 2, hitting a pinch-hit infield single. On August 5, Miller hit a game-tying RBI double, his first extra-base hit since 2002, against the Colorado Rockies. On September 15, Miller hit his first home run since 2002.

On August 1, 2008, Miller was designated for assignment, and was eventually sent outright to the minors. He returned to the Braves active roster on September 1.

Chicago White Sox

Miller became a free agent following the 2008 season and signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox.

As a non-roster invitee to White Sox spring training, Miller impressed enough to be awarded the back-up catcher's role to A.J. Pierzynski. In his first regular season game for the White Sox on April 11, 2009 (vs. the Minnesota Twins) Miller went 2-4, with 2RBI and a run scored. The game finished in a 8-0 Sox win.

Second stint with Reds

On June 26, 2009 Miller was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for outfielder Norris Hopper. On August 25, 2009 Miller was called up to the Cincinnati Reds from the Louisville Bats. He became a free agent following the season, but resigned to a minor league deal. Miller started the 2010 season not on the Reds 40-man roster, but after the injury of Ryan Hanigan, he was placed on the active roster and took over backup duties to Ramon Hernandez. He continues to fill the backup role, now with Hanigan and Hernandez switching spots on the disabled list. His starts come mostly as catcher for the Reds' young arms, such as Travis Wood and Matt Maloney, since he caught them in Louisville. He was outrighted back to Louisville on July 22, 2010, after Hernandez came back from the DL.

Miller was called up on September 1. The Reds outrighted him from the roster in the offseason and he refused his assignment, becoming a free agent. They resigned him to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Corky Miller: What's in a name (Minnesota Public Radio).