Mason “Mills” Miller, 18, moved to Valdosta from Orlando 14 years ago. A year later, when he was five, he began playing baseball. He fell in love with the sport immediately. “Man, I lose myself when I’m out there on the field,” he says. Though he has tried other sports throughout the years, Miller always came back to baseball. As he and I spoke, Miller and his Vikings teammates were getting ready for the state playoffs. He was hoping for a deep playoff run, after which he would begin preparing for the next stop on his baseball journey: Valdosta State University. The shortstop and lead-off hitter signed with the hometown Blazers and he’s excited about what the future holds. Here is a brief synapsis of Miller’s career by the numbers.
2: The number of sports besides baseball Miller has played. “When I was in middle school, I wrestled and played football,” he says. “But I decided I would focus on baseball. It was my best sport and the one I had played the longest.”
4: The number of matches Miller wrestled at Dixie Youth Nationals in Atlanta when he was in the seventh grade. He advanced to semifinals before an injury ended his run at a national title and his wrestling career. “I got slammed on my head and hurt my neck,” he laughs. “After that, I just played baseball.”
1: The spot in the batting order Miller occupies. At 5’8”, 160, and lightning fast, he’s a tough out. His speed helps him get down the line and turn routine outs into infield hits. He’s been the lead-off hitter on every team for which he has played. Which leads us to our next number . . .
.492: Millers on-base percentage this year. Last year, he posted a .436 OBP. He gets on base and immediately becomes a threat to score.
6: Miller’s position, shortstop. The same speed that makes him a weapon on the base paths is also lethal on defense. Because of his speed and quickness, he’s able to get to a lot of balls that average shortstops would miss. That keeps opponents off base and off the scoreboard.
5: The number of errors he’s committed this season.
.328: Miller’s batting average this season. He’s hit north of .300 every year he’s played varsity.
3: Speaking of playing varsity, Miller has started for the varsity Vikings for three straight years.
1st: Where Miller’s Vikings finished in the region his 10th grade year. Lowndes didn’t make the playoffs last year, primarily due to a bevy of injuries to key players. This year, the Vikings are going into the playoffs as a third seed.
89: The speed at which Miller has been clocked throwing across the infield. In addition to his sure glove and speed, he has a cannon for an arm. He’s done a little pitching but his coaches have deemed him more valuable on the infield than on the mound.
7th: The inning in which Miller’s biggest baseball moment took place. In the top of the seventh against Tift last year, Miller doubled to plate the go-ahead run. Lowndes would go on to win the game 6-4.
6.5: As in seconds, the amount of time it takes Miller to run the 60. He gets from home to first in 3.68 seconds.
7: The number of colleges looking at Miller when he committed to Valdosta State. “They gave me the best offer. And they offered me the opportunity to play as a freshman, which is what I was looking for,” he says.
Facts and Figures/South Georgia/June 2015
Mason “Mills” Miller
Lowndes High School
Valdosta, Georgia
by Robert Preston Jr.
Photography by Micki K Photography
