PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With all of the experiences closer Mason Miller has had from All-Star Game to pitching in the post-season, the World Baseball Classic, there was one thing he had not done. Pitch at home as a major leaguer.
Wednesday afternoon with a guesstimated 50 people minimum supporting him, Miller pitched at PNC Park as a member of the San Diego Padres.
“Yeah, everything I had hoped for sure,” Miller said. “Kinda hard to put into words, family being here that never seen me pitch. It’s obviously never a guarantee that you are going to pitch. I’m glad that it worked out. It was a good inning as well, quick and easy.”
The 27-year-old former Bethel Park and Waynesburg pitcher struck out Konnor Griffin on a nasty slider and got Joey Bart swinging before Jake Mangum grounded out in a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Miller came in even though the Padres had built an 8-2 lead.
“It’s the same mindset, no matter what the score is when I’m out there,” Miller said. “I’m competing. I’m not doing anything to make it easier on the hitters. They don’t deserve that. They are going to get my best regardless of the situation.”
After the final out, Miller then looked around, took it in, waved to the family. He soaked in the moment to return home. He had pitched at PNC Park in high school, but when he was with the A’s, he was on the injured list when Oakland played here.
It’s been an outstanding beginning to 2026, he had struck out 11 straight before the Mangum ground ball. He has 11 strikeouts in 4.1 innings throwing 42 of 52 pitches for strikes.
“Oh, that’s tough,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “Running it up to 103 and dropping in two strikes like that on Joey Bart to start off with off-speed pitches. He’s elite.”
Miller said there were reminders everywhere of his upbringing and formative years, even behind the pitching rubber at PNC Park.
“The stamp on the back of the mound for Allegheny Health Network, that was the company I took a job with before COVID,” Miller said. “You look at it and shake your head. Things could have gone so many different ways, but it didn’t. I’m here and extremely grateful and blessed to do that.”
It was accepting the internship as a financial analyst with AHN where he found out he had diabetes. The treatment of that changed his life and he was finally able to show everyone in person, back at home.
LISTEN to Bethel Park & Waynesburg star discuss opportunity
LISTEN to Bethel Park & Waynesburg star discuss opportunity
