The eighth best reliever in the 2021 Valley League season is no stranger to VBL fans- it’s Conor Miller, who was a standout for Woodstock in 2019 as well.

First, 2021: In 14 games and 15 1/3 innings, Miller went 0-0, 1.17, with seven saves, a .242 BAA, 1.307 WHIP, 2.9 BB/9, and 13.5 K/9. The righthander from York finished fourth in ERA, sixth in K/9, and seventh in BB/9 out of pitchers surveyed for this list. Coaches and media members named him first team All-Valley League at the end of the season. He didn’t give up a run until his eighth appearance in the summer, and not counting the playoffs, he allowed only two earned runs all summer.

Incredibly, he was even better in 2019, when ATVL named him the top reliever in the league. In 19 innings, he went 1-1, 0.47, with a .143 BAA, 0.737 WHIP, 2.4 BB/9, and 8.5 K/9, and added two saves. He also had two saves in the playoffs, going 0-2, 1.92 in 4 2/3 playoff innings. He was named second team All-Valley.

Miller completed four years of eligibility at York, a Division-III school in Pennsylvania. His stats:

  • 2018: 0-1, 11.05, one save, 1.909 WHIP, 10 walks, 17 K’s in 22 innings
  • 2019: 3-1, 1.42, three saves, 1.316 WHIP, eight walks, 15 K’s in 19 innings
  • 2020: 1-2, 7.59, seven walks and seven K’s in 10 2/3 innings (Covid season)
  • 2021: 1-1, 2.19, eight saves, 1.377 WHIP, 10 walks, 26 K’s in 24 2/3 innings, 2nd Team All-Region, and MAC Commonwealth tournament MVP. Overall, he was one of the best relievers in school history.

Currently, Miller is a grad student at Nova Southeastern University, a Division-II school in Florida. For now, though, he can say that he’s one of the few players to be named a top Valley League player in two different seasons!

(Photos taken by Michael Terndrup at photographyninja.smugmug.com)