He is never there but always present.
Every game Ian Miller plays and every at-bat he takes is dedicated to his late father.
On Nov. 28, 2010, Mark Miller died at home from a blood clot in his leg. He was 54. Ian Miller, then 18, also was at his Dowingtown, Pennsylvania, home studying for an exam.
“I was in shock. I didn’t feel anything. I didn’t really know what was going on,” Ian Miller said. “I hate to see my mom (Jennifer) cry. It was one of the few times I have seen her cry. It was tough to take.”
Following the funeral, Ian Miller returned to Wagner College in Staten Island, New York. His father’s influence never left. Mark Miller passed foundational principles of life and his moral beliefs and values on to his son.
“Everything that I center my life around today is what my dad taught me,” Ian Miller said.
A baseball player at the University of California, Los Angeles, Mark Miller was drafted by the Cincinnati Reds in 1979 and played two years in its minor league organization. And his passion for baseball became his son’s.
“He would be ecstatic to be here and see where I am and how far I have come,” said 23-year-old Ian Miller. “I know he is watching me.”
Miller is a center fielder — like his dad — with the Jackson Generals, the Class AA Southern League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners.
Jackson manager Roy Howell said of Miller, “He has good character that he brings to himself and his teammates. We admire watching him go out and work hard.”
‘Jesus means everything’
When his father died, Miller became more drawn to his own faith. It became a daily part of his life.
“My faith helped me with everything,” he said. “It was the biggest thing staying positive. It’s incredible — I play a game where you fail 7 out of 10 times. You’ve got to deal with failure, and at the end of the day, fall back on something bigger. Jesus means everything. I wouldn’t be here without Him.
“I have had struggles with faith. I tend to shy away from it but then I always find a way to come back to it,” he said, finding his way back through prayer and Bible study.
“This game is so hard mentally on you. It’s tough not to go home and read Scripture. Everything I have ever prayed about or prayed for has worked out.”
Miller also is encouraged through chapel services with teammate Zach Shank, who plays third base.
Shank said, “[Chapel] keeps you grounded and on the right path. Absolutely faith means a lot.”
Desiring to reflect Christ by the way he carries himself, Miller said he strives to be a good person on and off the field and set a good example. He wants to focus more on using baseball as a faith platform.
“I take a knee before every at-bat. I thank God and say a quick prayer to Him,” Miller said.
Drafted in the 14th round, Miller was the first position player taken from Wagner since 1999. He finished second in school history in career stolen bases with 93 and 12th in hits with 171.
The fastest base runner in Seattle’s 2013 draft class, Miller can race to first in 3.6 seconds when he bunts.
As a junior he stole a Northeast Conference-record 46 bases, which ranked him second nationally and put him as the fastest runner in the Northeast.
In addition to his speed, Miller’s skills at the plate make him competitive. At Clinton, Iowa, the Mariner’s Class A affiliate in the Midwest League, Miller batted .271 in 2014. He stole 16 bases in 18 attempts and hit five doubles, four triples and 13 RBI.
Starting the 2015 season in Bakersfield, California, Miller led the High-A California League in steals with 21 in 26 attempts.
He also hit .296 in 39 games with five doubles, two triples and six RBI.
Howell said, “He goes out there every day to get better and do his job. He is always the guy that is working hard and making sure his teammates are doing the same thing.”
Going forward Miller dreams of playing major league baseball, a dream that has stayed with him since childhood.
“The Mariners gave me confidence when they gave me an opportunity,” he said. “I have a strong belief in myself and in my faith.”
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