Mandatory Credit: Chadd Cady-Imagn Images
Mason Miller went from Division III starter to the San Diego Padres’ All-Star closer.
The story of Mason Miller is very inspiring to most youth playing baseball. Miller was a Division III starter who struggled in his freshman and sophomore years with ERAs north of seven. Miller eventually found his footing after some mental and physical adversity. Dominating his junior year and senior year before transferring to Division I Gardner-Webb for a fifth year on a COVID waiver.
This led to him being drafted in the third round by the Oakland Athletics. Miller, with his time on the Athletics, was an intriguing prospect mostly known for throwing triple digits on his fastball. But he wasn’t really in the spotlight to the entire baseball world. That was until July 31, 2025, when Mason Miller was traded to the San Diego Padres with JP Sears for top prospect Leo De Vries. Time will tell how the trade turns out for both organizations, but that’s a conversation for a different time.
In the present, this trade has benefited the Padres as the electric reliever made himself known as the 8th inning set-up man for Robert Suarez. In 22 games with the Padres, Miller gave up seven hits, two earned runs, and ten walks. He had forty five strikouts with a 0.77 ERA. Both earned runs were in his third appearance with the Padres, on a two-run homer given up to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. But after that is was pure dominance.
His first taste of playoff action didn’t disappoint. Going viral for a 104mph dotted fastball on the bottom left corner of the strike zone to retire Carson Kelly. He ended up striking out eight consecutive batters over two games in the wildcard series. Even then, people still slept on the reliver.
The fastest pitch of 2025: 104.5 mph
Mason Miller dials it up to 104.5 mph for the fastest postseason pitch in pitch-tracking HISTORY (since 2008) ?pic.twitter.com/2W4ySDYg50 https://t.co/vyTZ1UKhgM
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) December 29, 2025
Mason Miller is closing for the United States of America
On Thursday, December 18, 2025, it was announced that Mason Miller would pitch for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. The selling point from manager Mark Derosa to Miller was being the closer for a stacked USA team. Miller at first didn’t accept due to the fact that he might be transitioning to a starter. But once San Diego’s new manager, Craig Stammen, confirmed Miller would be the closer for the Padres, Mason was all in closing for the red, white, and blue. Allowing him to showcase his talent on an international stage.
The quest for a WBC title began in Houston, Pool B, where the top two teams advance. Favorites being the USA and Mexico. Miller made his first appearance in Team USA’s first game vs Brazil, which wasn’t much of a situation, USA up 15-5. He walked the first batter he faced, then struck out the side to close the game. Miller wasn’t very accurate, but the threat of his arsenal had Brazil out of sorts.
Miller’s second appearance was in a spot that Team USA didn’t think it would be in, being 3-0 in the pool already. He came in trailing 8-5 in the top of the 9th to Team Italy, the cinderella of the tournament. The reason is that runs scored against were the tie breaker in pool play, and with a loss, USA would be in a three-way tie to advance. Miller threw ten pitches, striking two out and getting the other to hit a lazy fly ball to left. Miller did his job, but the U.S fell 8-6 to Italy. The United States ended up advancing to the quarterfinal stage, where they would take on Canada.
If the world didn’t know the name Mason Miller, they do now
In Miller’s next apperance this was his first time with the squad, coming in to close things out. Miller dominantly answered the bell in the quarterfinal. Tensions were running high in the North American rivalry; Canada was sticking around to try to pull the upset. Miller came in and struck out the side on eighteen pitches. USA fans in attendance were blown away by the dominance displayed. Gasps came before claps after every fastball Miller threw, blown away by the conistent triple digit number being displayed on his fastball.
Mason Miller slams the door for Team USA! #WorldBaseballClassic pic.twitter.com/b2mAGD07YT
— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 14, 2026
But Miller’s biggest test came in the Semifinal, vs cofavorites to win the whole tournamnet The Dominican Republic. It featured offensively one of the best lineups ever assembled with Padres teammates Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The United States had a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of nine. Junior Caminero, Julio Rodriguez, and Oneil Cruz due up. Miller made quick work of Caminero, striking him out on four pitches. But ended up losing command and giving a walk to Rodriguez. Tying run on base. Oneil Cruz up to bat, having four at-bats all tourney, two being home runs. During the at-bat, Miller and catcher Will Smith got crossed up, leading to a wild pitch moving the tying run to second. But Mason kept his composure and got Cruz to ground out to short. Tying run advanced to third. This brought up Arizona Diamondback shortstop Geraldo Perdomo; Padres teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. was on deck. Miller and Perdomo battled for eight pitches, Perdomo staying alive fouling pitches off, fell to a Miller slider that was a controversial call from the umpire to seal the win for the United States.
MASON MILLER CLOSES THE DOOR AND SENDS TEAM USA TO THE WBC CHAMPIONSHIP ?? pic.twitter.com/3r3J2fyU5E
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 16, 2026
Mason Miller didn’t pitch in the championship vs Venezuela, even with a 2-2 game in the top of nine to hold the tie for the United States. Manager Mark Derosa says the decision came on upholding the Padres’ wishes that Miller only appeared if it was a save opportunity for the win. Nonetheless, Mason Miller put on a show in every outing, in blowout fashion or in a nail-biting finish. A sign of great things to come for Padres fans with Opening Day in San Diego on March 26.
Heading into the first full season as a Padre with a new title
Heading into the 2026 season, Mason Miller will be the closer. With the loss of Rober Suarez in free agency and the hefty price the Padres gave up for Miller, it was always trending this way. He got three opportunities in 2025 with the Padres, finishing with two saves. With the blown save on his only two earned runs given up vs Arizona.
With his emergence in this new media market in San Diego, pitching in meaningful games, the WBC, and the hype that has always surrounded him, with the triple-digit speed on his fastball. His name should be one known and feared across the MLB. San Diego hopes to have one of the league’s best closers to slam the door shut on teams in front of a sea of San Diegans.
Hi Padres fans, I’m Wyatt Dearen. I am from Farmington, New Mexico, which is home to one of the most prestigious high school baseball tournaments in America, the Connie Mack World Series. When it comes around, I do color and statistics for the radio. I am currently pursuing a degree in Sports Administration at the University of Houston #GoCoogs. I have been a sports fan my whole life, following all the major sports leagues since I could walk, and it has been my dream my whole life to work in sports. Thankful to write about the team and for the East VillageTimes.
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