From Crafty Lefty To Bowling Green Commit For Miller

Jackson Miller LHP / OF / Lakeland, MI / 2025

WHITE LAKE - Last summer Jackson Miller was throwing his fastball in the upper 70s. A year later, the Lakeland High School junior is now a college commit to Bowling Green.

“My coach’s two sons committed there and he put them on me,” Miller said in reference to Brad Farquhar, who recently stepped down after a successful career as the Lakeland coach. “It was an instant click. They saw me a few times and I felt like it was the right spot.”

A visit took place in February and an offer came before the high school season.

“They saw me early in the season and I accepted the offer on May 20,” the seventh-rated 2025 left-handed pitcher in Michigan noted. “It was a good fit for me and my family, that’s the most important thing. It’s a perfect-sized school for me and I have a great relationship with (head) coach (Kyle) Hallock.”

Ohio State, Michigan, Kentucky, Oakland and some MAC schools were among those interested in Miller, but it was BG that eventually moved to the front.

“I went to a practice on my visit and the bond the team had stood out,” Miller reflected. “They had really good chemistry. I was looking during my recruitment for a brotherhood and they have that. Plus the success they have, winning the MAC regular season.”

The projectability of the 6-3 160-pounder made an impression on Bowling Green.

“They like the room I have to grow, being long and lanky,” Miller related. “Coach Hallock talked about how they can transform me to get to the next level with how much room I have to grow.”

The idea of playing in college has, admittedly, been there for some time.

“College baseball has always been on my radar,” Miller explained. “It became realistic this past winter. I did an offseason program and my fastball, which was 77-78 off the mound last summer, jumped to now having it in the high-80s. It all started to blow up this summer.

“I went to the Preseason All-State and that definitely helped,” Miller added. “A couple of coaches reached out after that. The exposure my training facility gave me also helped a ton.”

With an improved game came the need to adapt.

“I had to learn a new way to pitch with the velo jump,” the 35th-ranked 2025 in the state admitted. “Before I was a crafty lefty, now with the stuff I have it’s a confidence thing.”

In addition to Farquhar, Miller pointed to his father as being a major part of his baseball journey that has reached the point of a college commitment.

“It was mostly pure joy,” Miller said of the feeling he had when the decision to make BG home became official. “My family celebrated, we went out to dinner. It was awesome.”

Business management will be the college major for Miller, a 3.8 student who began pitching five years ago.

“I was a crafty lefty throwing 50 percent fastballs, 40 percent curveballs and 10 percent changeups,” Miller said. “Now I’m 70 percent fastballs, 15 percent curve and 15 percent change.”

The 17-year-old is confident he can make an impact at the Mid-American Conference school.

“I’ll be a leader, trying to do the best I can,” Miller explained. “I want to try to get the team a MAC championship and get the team into the NCAA Tournament.”

There is more that Miller is ready for when it comes to Bowling Green.

“I’m looking forward to getting my life going, creating relationships that will last a long time in my life,” Miller concluded.