Andrew Miller was arguably the best MLB reliever during the midst of the 2010’s decade. The left-hander made two All-Star teams in 2016 and 2017 and was a crucial piece to the puzzle in leading Cleveland to the 2016 World Series. However, Miller recently announced his retirement after a career that spanned from 2006-2021. The MLB Players Association (MLBPA) was able to catch up with him and get his thoughts on the current state of baseball.
“The talent and personalities right now are through the roof … One of my concerns is that we’re not embracing them enough.”
Miller is correct by stating that “personalities right now are through the roof.” Juan Soto , Fernando Tatis Jr, Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Tim Anderson, and more are all playing baseball with emotion and passion. They are bat-flipping and accomplishing feats we have not seen on a baseball field.
Ohtani alone has grown the game single-handedly. The Japanese star's blend of hitting and pitching dominance has fans from all over the world intrigued by his otherworldly talent.
The point that Miller is making is that MLB and MLBPA need to lean into their stars and market them. The NBA does a great job of marketing players such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry. LeBron and Curry have celebrity-esque media presences off the court due to their marketability.
If MLB can do something similar with players like Ohtani and Soto, the league could be in line for immense growth moving forward. Perhaps Andrew Miller should start working in MLB marketing and help the league further the growth of the sport!
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