Decision time: Colorado Mesa or the Kansas City Royals?Bayfield High School pitcher Clay Miller was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 35th round with the 1,044th pick of the Major League Baseball Draft on Saturday. The 6-foot, 170-pound lefty committed to play college baseball at Colorado Mesa before his senior season, a season that saw the Wolverines ace continue to blossom.
Miller, son of Mitzi and Robert Miller, went 10-0 with a 0.59 earned-run average, anchoring a strong Bayfield pitching staff that was a big reason why the Wolverines qualified for the CHSAA Class 3A State Championships this season.
Other than the fact hes excited to be drafted in any round, he told me he doesnt know what hes going to do for sure, BHS head coach Tom Horton said.
Hes going to hear back from the scout (Saturday night). He did hear from the scout (Ken Muñoz) after he was selected. ... Hes expecting to have a much more lengthy conversation. As a senior, Miller threw a five-inning no-hitter in the district championship game, tossed a perfect game and combined with Matthew Knickerbocker on another no-hitter. He struck out 137 batters against just 11 walks and allowed just 22 hits in 59 innings pitched. The senior also hit .578, driving in 63 runs and homering 10 times.
Miller could not be reached for comment Saturday.
I know the whole familys excited. ... Hes excited, and I dont think he expected to go in any real high rounds, Horton said. I think he was just hoping to get an offer in any round.Miller joins the likes of locals Derek Rodriguez and Sam Phippen as recent area draftees, though neither remains in minor league baseball. Rodriguez was drafted in the 37th round of the 2007 draft by the Royals out of Ignacio High School, while Phippen, a Durango High School alumnus, was selected in the 41st round of the 2010 draft out of California-Santa Barbara by the Chicago White Sox.
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