Andrew Miller to be Called up by Detroit

Nate Robertson is heading to the DL for the Tigers with a "tired arm," which is kinda weird in early June. Andrew Miller will be called up Sunday from AA Erie to make at least two starts in Robertson's place.

Miller went 1-4, 3.48 at high-A Lakeland before getting called up to Erie, where he was dominant in four starts, going 2-0, 0.59 with 24 K's and 5 BB in 30.2 IP. He also made a start earlier in the season for the Tigers, when he held the Cardinals to 0 runs on 4 hits in 6 innings for his first big league win. He's a tall lefty in his first professional season after leading North Carolina to the College World Series championship game in 2006. He fell to Detroit at #6 in last year's draft largely due to signability issues, despite being the top rated prospect in the draft by Baseball America.

Miller features a mid-90s fastball, but usually settles for his low 90s two-seamer with good movement. He has a disgusting slider and also features a solid changeup. Tigers fans are excited that he may continue to impress in his next couple starts with the big club and stick, taking Mike Maroth's spot when Robertson returns from the DL. Normally I'm wary about rushing pitchers, but he's a guy who has three years of college under his belt and has been impressive professionally thusfar. Also, the fact that he has decent command of a third pitch bodes well for him. In a season where we've already seen Phil Hughes, Homer Bailey, Tim Lincecum, and Kevin Slowey called up for the first time, we're about to get our first extended look at Miller as a starter.