IBC

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/04/m ... rgery.html

According to MLB.com's Stephen Ellsesser top Indians pitching prospect Adam Miller will undergo season-ending surgery that will put his career in jeopardy. The tendons in middle finger on his pitching hand need to be repaired, so Miller will have surgery Tuesday. The Indians' head athletic trainer said it's a "career threatening" procedure.

Hate to see special talents never even get a chance to show what they could be capable of.

Tigers wrote:http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2009/04/m ... rgery.html

According to MLB.com's Stephen Ellsesser top Indians pitching prospect Adam Miller will undergo season-ending surgery that will put his career in jeopardy. The tendons in middle finger on his pitching hand need to be repaired, so Miller will have surgery Tuesday. The Indians' head athletic trainer said it's a "career threatening" procedure.

Hate to see special talents never even get a chance to show what they could be capable of.

Really a bummer. It says something about Miller's level of talent that despite 6 injury-marred minor league seasons (all w/ the IBC Marlins/Orioles/Brewers, btw) most major prospect evaluators continued to place him among the best regarded pitching prospects in baseball (4 times ranked in the top half of the BA top 100).

Considering all the missed time and interrupted seasons, his minor league totals are pretty impressive, and make you wonder what he could have done w/ a full healthy season.

His 150+ IP at age 21 in 06 (AA) gave a glimpse: 15-6, 2.75 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 153.2 IP, 128 H, 43 BB, 157 K.

Minors avgs (398.2 IP): 3.55/1.25, 8.5 H/9, 0.5 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 8.3 K/9

BA Prospect rankings (from the Baseball Cube):

2004 - #9 ranked for CLE (Top 10)
2005 - #16 ranked MLB (Top 100)
2005 - #1 ranked for CLE
2006 - #47 ranked MLB
2006 - #1 ranked for CLE
2007 - #23 ranked MLB
2007 - #1 ranked for CLE
2008 - #29 ranked MLB
2008 - #1 ranked for CLE
2009 - #4 ranked for CLE

Hopefully the surgery doesn't end his career. I know I'll be burning a roster spot for another season to find out.