Major League Baseball didn't always seem like a possibility for Mason Miller.
During his sophomore season at Waynesburg University, the Bethel Park native and pitcher was 1-5 with a 5.57 ERA.
A type 1 diabetes diagnoses changed that.
"That's when everything kind of kicked into gear," Miller said. "I started having unparalleled success compared to what I had been."
Managing his diagnoses allowed Miller to gain weight and get stronger. It led to dramatically different results on the mound just a year later. During his junior season at Waynesburg, Miller went 8-2 with a 1.86 ERA and 97 strikeouts.
"The hard work that I did put in where I wasn't seeing results prior to my diagnoses, I was able to see growth and see improvement," he said. "With a healthy body and everything together moving forward, it worked out and it was a slow, steady process."
Miller said it was during his junior season at Waynesburg, talks of professional baseball started.
COVID-19 granted him an extra year of eligibility, and he transferred to Gardner-Webb for his final season. With the Runnin' Bulldogs, Miller went 8-1 with a 3.30 ERA and 121 strikeouts.
With two standout collegiate seasons under his belt, it became increasingly likely an MLB organization would come calling. While waiting for that call during the draft, Miller stayed at home with family and friends.
During the third round, his phone rang. He was selected by the Oakland A's as the 97th overall pick.
"Once that call came, the thing I had been waiting for for a year, it was very exciting and also a relief that it was over, and I knew where I was going and what the next step was going to look like," Miller said. "It was a very special moment, one of the most special moments of my life."
Miller is one of seven former WPIAL players drafted by MLB this year, and one of two Bethel Park alumni.
Justin Meis, a junior right-handed pitcher playing for Eastern Michigan University was drafted by the Pirates in the 10th round. He and Miller are two years apart and played on the same team with the Black Hawks.
"We definitely exchanged our congratulations and good lucks and hopefully our paths cross through pro ball and potentially in the offseason," Miller said of Meis. "It's exciting to have somebody experiencing the same thing you're experiencing after sharing high school ball with them."
Along with seeing two grads drafted in the same year, Bethel Park is also coming off a PIAA Championship.
Miller is now in Arizona waiting to get word on his next step.
"I'm excited to get to know these guys and put in some hard work here and see where it takes us."