Keith Miller: Former Mets Player Turned MLB Agent: (1987 - 1991)
Keith Allen Miller was born June 12, 1963, in Midland, Michigan. He grew up a fan of Pete Rose, learning to be a gritty hardnosed player like Rose.The five foot eleven right-handed hitting Miller was a high school baseball star in Bay City Michigan. He was offered a contract by the Cleveland Indians but chose to attend Oral Roberts College in Tulsa Oklahoma.
In 1984 Miller was originally signed by the A.L. New York teaman injury voided the contract & he eventually signed with the New York Mets.
In 1984 Miller was originally signed by the A.L. New York teaman injury voided the contract & he eventually signed with the New York Mets.
Miller played good defense at A Lynchburg & hit .302 getting himself promoted. In 1986 he batted .329 while stealing 28 bases at AA Jackson. In 1987 he began the year at AAA Tidewater as the clubs second baseman but was brought up to the Mets that summer.
Miller did well hitting safely in his first seven games & was batting .366 at the end of June, although he was optioned back to AAA Tidewater. He returned as a September call up, playing mostly as a defensive replacement & pinch runner.
In his rookie year Miller hit .373 (19-51), while stealing eight bases in nine attempts. He collected two doubles & two triples, with an RBI & 14 runs scored in 25 games. He posted a .407 on base % & .898 OPS.
As time went on, Miller became the ultimate utility player, playing all infield and outfield positions.
Walk Off Hit: On June 18th, Miller came to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th inning of a 1-1 tie with the Phillies at Shea Stadium. He singled off Terry Frohwirth scoring Kevin McReynolds with the walk off game winning run.
On July 1st he hit a rare HR against the Astros Jim Deshaies in a 6- loss at Shea. On the year he batted just .214 in 40 games playing at second base (16 games) short (8 games) & third base (6 games). He did not play in the post season NLCS loss.
1989: Once again, he began the year at AAA Tidewater getting called up in May. That September the Mets began using him in the outfield as well.
On April 17th he drew four walks in a loss to the Cubs at Shea Stadium. On April 22nd, he hit a two run HR off the Expos Mark Gardner in a 5-0 Sid Fernandez two hit shut out over Montreal at Shea.
Miller brought his season average up to .258 while stealing a career high 16 stolen bases. He played in 88 games, hitting one HR with eight doubles 12 RBIs & 42 runs scored.
1991: In this season of change for the Mets, the team finished fifth (77-84) under manager Bud Harrelson, their worst finish in eight years. Miller saw the most playing time of his Mets career, appearing in 98 games. He hit a solid .280 & collected Mets career highs in hits (77) RBIs (23) & HRs (4).
Game Winning Hits: On August 30th he helped David Cone to a win when he singled off former Met Randy Meyers in the top of the 7th inning scoring Greg Jeffries on what would be the game winning run to beat the Reds 3-2. The next night, with the score tied 7-7 in the 10th inning, Miller hit his second HR of the season, it came off Rob Diddle & was the game winning run in the 8-7 win.
On September 17th, Miller he hit a 5th inning HR off Montreal's Chris Haney breaking a 2-2 tie at Shea Stadium leading to the Mets 3-2 win.
On September 17th, Miller he hit a 5th inning HR off Montreal's Chris Haney breaking a 2-2 tie at Shea Stadium leading to the Mets 3-2 win.
David Cone K's 19- Miller's Four Hit Game: On October 6th, in the final game of the year at
Philadelphia, David Cone tied an MLB record with 19 strike outs in a three-hit shutout over the Phillies. In the game Miller had a four-hit game, driving in two of the three runs including a HR off Andy Ashby.
Philadelphia, David Cone tied an MLB record with 19 strike outs in a three-hit shutout over the Phillies. In the game Miller had a four-hit game, driving in two of the three runs including a HR off Andy Ashby.
Post Mets Career: In 1992 Miller was in the fifth place Royals line up playing at second base, outfield & DH.
Spoiling Ron Darlings No Hit Bid: The Royals began the year at 0-7. In their eighth game, they went into the 8th inning being no hit by former Met Ron Darling, who was now with the Oakland A's. Miller led off the 8th inning breaking up his old teammates no-hit bid. Darling was taken out of the game & the Royals went on to score three runs winning the game.
That season, Miller had career highs in games (106) batting (.284) HRs (4) & RBIs (38) while getting hit by 14 pitches (third most in the AL).
He returned in late August. On the year for KC he only played 37 games batting a low .167.
In the strike shortened 1994 season, Miller played in just five games, spending the majority of the
season at AA Omaha. After playing nine games for the Royals in 1995 & he retired from playing.
season at AA Omaha. After playing nine games for the Royals in 1995 & he retired from playing.
Retirement: After his playing days Miller took his baseball smarts and used them to become a player agent. Most famously for Mets fans he was agent for the Mets All Star David Wright. Other notable clients include Scott Rolen, Mike Sweeney, Dustin Pedroia, Jonathan Papelbon & Brandon Inge.
Quotes- Keith Miller: "I loved playing the game so much that to me it was the best job in the world. But I look at what I'm doing now as the second-best job in the world."
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