Mason Miller was shocked and elated to be traded to the San Diego Padres

Mason Miller was shocked and elated to be traded to the San Diego Padres

surprise. Okay. Thank you. Been here all the two hours, but I’m loving every second of it. How would you describe the last 24 hours for you? Chaotic for sure, but uh now that we’re here, boots on the ground, start to get outside, play catch, and you know, feel like ball player. What was your reaction down? Yeah, it kind of came out of nowhere. Um, you know, I I kind of expected to to move in some ways. Um but yeah, you know, getting that end up here not far from from where we were, it’s real nice. How did it go down for you? You didn’t come into the game the night before when you guys had the lead. What were you told? How did you find out about everything? Yeah, so I found out in the eighth inning I wasn’t available to pitch uh on what was that, Wednesday. Um and then kind of had a meeting, said nothing was done yet, but next morning got the call and you know, found out I was coming down here. What does it mean to come to this team that’s play contention? I don’t know how much you know about Petco Park full every night with fans. What is this? Uh what are you looking forward to? All of it. Yeah. I mean just that that extra extra gush behind your back, all the fans in the stands. Um you know, playing meaningful baseball every night and being a part of a winning culture. I’m really excited. Considering the Padres’s have three leaders to the during the next season. Are they anywhere on your on your list that this can be a destination? No. I mean, frankly, I it’s a perfect reason, perfect way to put it, you know, but uh you know, I’m I’m happy to be here and hope to make that even bigger strength. Not yet. No. Does it matter to you? No. Whatever I can do to help the team win, I’m I’m ready to do. You had a meeting with before the draft. Um do you remember that? Was that here? No, that was I don’t remember where exactly it was. Somewhere in the Carolinas. Uh I threw to a couple hitters. I spoke to him afterwards. Um but yeah, kind of kind of weird. He He remembers it. He brought it up. I I certainly remember it as well. He said he messed that up. Does he hear you again? Well, I wouldn’t say that necessarily, but I think he would have been happy to take me for sure. What do you think about joining a team that’s got some playoff experience and clearly is trying to go for it again? Yeah. I mean, I’m just going to be a sponge to these guys and, you know, the abilities they have and, you know, the experience they have. I really look forward to learning from them and playing alongside them. You have pitched here before? I have. Yeah. Not very long. Only two batters, but yeah. uh that experience at least would have given you a sense of the atmosphere, an afternoon game, obviously the excitement of a walk-off. What’ you learn just about kind of the fan base, the setting and all that through that experience? Passionate man. Yeah, it’s the only way to put it and I’m really looking forward to playing for him. Coler said that he and assistant Josh Stein like they got rejected a few times. Had to keep at it, keep at it to get you to use it. Just the fact that they really pushed you. Yeah. I mean, whenever you get traded, you know, there’s always a feeling of, you know, this team really wants me. this team’s willing to give things up to get me. So, uh, you know, I’m really, really happy to be here. I’m really proud of the work I’ve done to, you know, have people around the league notice that and be willing to give things up to have me on their team. You still have many years remaining until you’re a free agent, so this can be a place where you you really dig in some roots. Is that something that entices you? It’s exciting. Yes. Uh, wherever you are, you know, your your loyalties with the guys you’re sharing a locker room with. Um, but yeah, to be able to be here for 4 and 1/2 years, um, you know, hopefully I’m able to be here for the entirety of that and, you know, have a lot of success. There’s been some talk about getting those four years potentially, you know, starting. Is that something you’d be open to in the future? Yeah, I mean, there’ll be conversations had. Um, but like I said, we haven’t had them yet. Might be kind of a dumb question, but how does one learn how to throw the ball really really fast? I mean, fortunately for me, I I don’t try to do it. I just I just try to focus on my mechanics, focus on being smooth, efficient, uh, and the ball just jumps out of my hand. So, is there something that unlocked it for you at all? Uh, I mean, my diabetic diagnosis was the the major driver. um getting healthy and putting on weight and just kind of incrementally increasing the VO each year. How amped up are you to be here in this moment? I don’t mean talking to us like this, but just in this clubhouse in this team. Yeah. Yeah. Like I said, I’m anxious to get outside and, you know, throw a ball and feel like a ball player and be a part of this team. Is it kind of surreal just going from I imagine difficult playing, you know, Sacramento, TripleA ballpark, not really having a real home to all this. Yeah, it’s flipped it on its head for sure. you know, going from there to to a stadium that’s going to be full every night is is a major switch. But, uh, you know, I’m really excited to to have that opportunity.

Mason Miller on why he was shocked to be traded from the A’s to the San Diego Padres, what kind of bullpen role he expects and what it means to be in a playoff race in front of packed crowds at Petco Park.