Top-10 Profiles of 2019: No. 3 Noah Miller
December 31, 2019
Noah Miller (Ozaukee; Alabama commit) has been atop the state’s 2021 rankings since this time last year. He’s a high-level defender who makes the difficult look routine while roaming shortstop with an uber quick transfer to release. He’s been making steady gains on offense, too. Miller is a savvy switch-hitter whose athleticism works well in both batter’s boxes. Both swings paths are loose and easy and he does well to find the barrel consistently which helps him assert himself as a top-of-the-order type.
In his sophomore spring at Ozaukee, Miller showed more evidence of an enhanced approach at the plate as he hit .492 with 11 extra-base hits, including a couple of home runs.
He’s a natural. And given his older brother Owen’s overwhelming success at Illinois State and instantaneous impact at the professional level in the San Diego Padres’ system, it’s helped Noah gain a greater audience early in his high school career.
The younger Miller comes in at No. 3 on our countdown.
NO. 3: NOAH MILLER
Scouting Report
+ There are not too many infielders around the MIdwest and country steadier than SS Noah Miller (Ozaukee HS, WI). Miller, an athletically-built, switch-hitter committed to Alabama, made every routine play with ease and is fundamentally sound. Miller has plenty of arm strength for the left-side of the diamond but rarely finds himself needing to show it off due to his advanced internal clock and quick release. Miller consistently hits his target in the chest, maintains body control on the move and can throw from multiple slots.
+ Miller is as savvy as they come defensively, with a super quick gather, transfer, and release that’s always on target. He’s the top-ranked prospect in Wisconsin’s ‘21 class known for his defense, but the switch-hitter is a lead-off type with barrel feel on both sides of the plate. Miller’s a natural.
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Long projectable levers, lean build.
Positional Profile: SS Top ranked prospect in Wisconsin's 2021 class, Natural feel for the game with high ceiling.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60. Continues to improve run times.
Hit: SH. Sets up similarly from both sides of the plate, slightly open, athletic and poised in the box, smooth loading action and excellent balance through contact. Easy swing from both sides, while showing equally impressive feel for the barrel, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Slightly stringer contact from the right side.
Defense: Shortstop defender, showed ability to make all the necessary plays, feet work well through the baseball with advanced ball skills.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Arm plays up, carries easy and accurate, short over the top slot with athletic and quick releases.
11/5/18 - Verbally committed to Alabama.
9/16/18 - 5-foot-10, 160-pound shortstop, high wasited, lean frame. Plus potential defender, hands are soft with advanced actions and body control, smooth and confident on the infield, advanced IQ, showed ability to make all the non routine plays. Arm plays up, carries well across the diamond and accurate from all slots, showed arm strength and accuracy on backhand play in the six hole. Switch-hitter, looks natural from both sides, path is short and stays on top of the baseball. 4.51 run down the line on a fielder's choice.
2/25/18 - 5-foot-9, 150-pound switch-hitting infielder, lean projectable frame, long legs. Hands play soft on the infield and work efficiently to release, transfers clean and quick. Feet play through the baseball and move athletically, 7.71 runner in the 60. Arm action is loose, athletic from multiple slots, with accuracy, 77 mph across. Balanced hitter from both sides of the plate, path is level, hands work. Line drive hitter, favors pull side contact right-handed, sprays more from the left side. 78 mph exit velocity from the left side, 72 mph exit velocity from the right side.
9/9/17 - Switch-hitting middle infielder, long legs, athletic shape. Defensively plays with advanced actions, soft hands and plays through the baseball. Easy athletic defender, good body control, arm plays athletically and on the move. Offensively takes a middle of the field approach from both sides, can handle the bat equally, bat control type hitter.
3/15/17 - 5-foot, 125-pound, lanky, athletic shortstop. Offensively, switch-hitter, balanced setup, short stride, fluid rhythm, maintains balance. Easy, simply swing, line drive hitter, drove it opposite field, level barrel path, gains extension, 78 mph exit velocity from right-side and 77 mph exit velocity from left-side. Defensively, short, loose arm action, arm slot varied between ¾ and low ¾, 72 mph across the infield. Fields athletically, out front and between legs, soft hands, gains ground, body control, clean exchange. Ran an 8.32 laser-timed 60.
3/15/16 - 5-foot-3, 105-pound left-handed hitting shortstop with an athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load, and short, leg kick stride. Line drive hitter with a short level swing path and fluid rhythm. 63 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.57. Defensively has a short, loose arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Accurate throws across the infield at 60 mph. Athletic actions, playing thru the ball with fluid footwork and soft hands. Showed good body control. On the mound works form a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with an athletic finish. Fastball sat 62-63 mph. Slider showed 11-5 shape at 54-58 mph for strikes. Changeup sat 58-61 mph for strikes.