MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Mason Miller #19 of Team United States pitches against Team Dominican Republic during the ninth inning at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
Megan Briggs
Getty Images
Miami
While the end result did not go the Americans way in the 2026 World Baseball Classic championship, one player was lights out in every appearance — Mason Miller.
The 2021 Gardner-Webb graduate dominated in his WBC debut, not allowing a hit or a run while striking out 10 during the event.
Now returning to the San Diego Padres following the all-star event, Miller has had an improbable journey to becoming one of the top closers in Major League Baseball.
For the first four years of his collegiate career, he played at small Division III Waynesburg University in Pennsylvania. After his senior year was shortened due to COVID, he was given a fifth season of eligibility. Taking advantage of it, he transferred to Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs.
MIAMI, FLORIDA – MARCH 15: Mason Miller (19) and Will Smith (16) of Team United States celebrate after the 2-1 victory against Team Dominican Republic at loanDepot park on March 15, 2026 in Miami, Florida. Al Bello Getty Images
In the midst of playing, he was diagnosed with Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. Soon after, this diagnosis became a turning point in Miller’s collegiate career as it allowed him to gain more weight, giving him more power and arm speed as a pitcher.
For the one year he competed for Gardner-Webb, he earned first-team All-Big South Conference honors in 2021, going 8-1 with a 3.30 ERA, garnering 121 strikeouts in 92.2 innings pitched. That year he ranked No. 21 nationally in strikeouts, which ranked second in program history for a single season.
Miller’s time at Gardner-Webb was a transformative part of his baseball journey.
“It was a stepping stone,” Miller said. “Coming from a Division III school, I wouldn’t have been prepared to make that step to pro ball. It was a good kind of halfway point for me and (it) allowed me to perform at a higher level.”
On to pro baseball with the A’s
Right after graduating, Miller was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 3rd round of the 2021 MLB June Amateur Draft. He quickly climbed the MLB ranks as a pitcher after converting from a starter to a reliever, making his first All-Star team in 2024 with the Athletics.
With that accolade, Miller became the first baseball athlete with Cleveland County ties to be an MLB All Star since Kings Mountain’s Jake Early (Washington Senators catcher) was one in 1943. The now retired No. 17 Gardner-Webb jersey number, Miller’s name is amongst the top tier of Bulldog alumni
CHICAGO – OCT. 1: Mason Miller (22) of the San Diego Padres throws a pitch in the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during game two of the National League Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field on Oct. 1, 2025, in Chicago. Michael Reaves Getty Images
Last season, Miller led the Major Leagues in strikeouts per nine innings (15.2), as he notched 22 saves with a 2.63 ERA for the San Diego Padres. Heading into the 2026 season, he is tied for the MLB lead in strikeouts for a reliever over the past two seasons with 208.
“I think he’s pitched a string of 50 innings now without giving up a hit so he’s dominant on the mound,” San Diego Padres owner John Seidler said. “He hasn’t given up a run since August last year so he’s a lot of fun to watch and when he comes in in the 9th, we’re very confident as Padres fans (that) the game is in the bag.”
Dominating for Team USA
Miller was dominant in his first career appearances on Team USA. He picked up the save against Canada in the WBC quarterfinal as well as the save in the semifinal win over the Dominican Republic. In that span, he threw 35 pitches over 100 mph. That was more than all other pitchers in the WBC combined.
He was a consistent and reliable arm for Team USA Manager Mark DeRosa.
“He’s got an unflappable demeanor about him,” he said. “You can speak to these hitters — we’re still in March here. They’re getting ready for the season. I think at the end of the day, stuff plays out, and if you can run it up there with 100, 101, 102 MPH with a breaking ball that he can land for a strike, he’s tough to deal with.
”Team USA fell short in the WBC championship game last night, falling to Venezuela 3-2 for the country’s second consecutive WBC championship game loss by one run. For the first time, Venezuela captured gold in the WBC, thanks to contributions from Ronald Acuna Jr., Wilyer Abreu, and Eugenio Suarez as Venezuela plated the winning run in the top of the 9th, clinching the victory after a big time save from Daniel Palencia. With tears of joy shown across all of the players, coaches, and fans faces in Miami after the underdog victory over the Americans.
Miller had a memorable experience in the WBC, even though Team USA finished as the runner-ups.
“It’s a two-week long All-Star game [so] just being around the best in the game and learning from them, observing them but also getting ready for the year too,” Miller said.
While Miller was not at all satisfied with silver, the closer will be a face Team USA looks to have in the next World Baseball Classic. Perhaps he will hopefully be a name repping the red, white, and blue in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, too. if Major League Baseball can put a brief pause on their season for the best of the best to compete on the Olympic stage.
Anna Laible is a student with UNC Media Hub, a program with the UNC Hussman School of Journalism and Media, reporting from the World Baseball Classic in Miami.