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Bryce Miller's 99-mph fastball signals strong Mariners return by mid-May

A 99-mph fastball and six strikeouts in three scoreless innings—Bryce Miller's rehab is on fire. But will Seattle's crowded rotation have room for him?

, and ASMedia

2026 April 25 . 2:29 PM

2 min read

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Too much good pitching for the Mariners?

Bryce Miller's 99-mph fastball signals strong Mariners return by mid-May

Bryce Miller inched closer to his return to the Mariners rotation with three scoreless innings for the High-A Everett AquaSox on Friday night in his second rehab start.

The Mariners' 27-year-old right-hander topped out at 99 mph with his fastball, according to a major league scout in attendance, and struck out six in his three innings of work against Spokane.

Miller allowed just one hit with one walk. He threw 47 pitches, 35 for strikes, with seven whiffs.

Miller is working his way back from an oblique strain suffered early in spring training. He made his first rehab start last week for Triple-A Tacoma, allowing three runs in 1.2 innings on 33 pitches, also topping out at 99 mph.

The Mariners' plan is to use the full 30-day schedule allotted for rehab assignments, putting Miller on track for a return to Seattle in mid-May.

At that point, the Mariners could have a difficult decision to make considering how well the major league rotation has pitched over the first month.

Anderson impresses again

Kade Anderson, the Mariners' top pitching prospect, continued a sensational start to his pro career for the Double-A Arkansas Travelers on Friday night.

The 21-year-old left-hander allowed only one hit over 4.2 scoreless innings against the Corpus Christi Hooks, with no walks, eight strikeouts and one hit batter. He threw 59 pitches, 39 for strikes, with nine whiffs. The game was delayed by weather and will resume Saturday.

The Mariners selected Anderson with the No. 3 overall pick out of LSU last summer, and it would be hard to script a more impressive start for any pitcher in his pro career.

Through his first four starts, Anderson has allowed only one run on nine hits in 18.2 innings, with a 30-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Emerson returns for Tacoma

Colt Emerson, the Mariners' No. 1 prospect, returned to the Tacoma Rainiers' lineup Friday night after missing the previous four games because of a sore wrist.

Playing shortstop and batting third, Emerson went 0 for 5 with a walk, an RBI groundout and two strikeouts.