Family bonding over baseball

He’s not playing with the San Diego Padres right now, but Owen Miller is having a blast practicing America’s pastime with a special group of people.

Miller and his family can often be found at Ozaukee High School’s baseball field taking batting and fielding practice.

“My dad throws batting practice to us. He’s been doing that our whole lives. A lot of the reason we’re good hitters is because of him,” Miller said.

Owen is joined on the field by his brother Noah, an Ozaukee High baseball standout with similar big league dreams, and their cousin Matt, another player who helped the Warriors reach the state semifinals last season.

After pitching, Owen and Noah’s father Tom picks up a bat and hits some balls so his sons and nephew can work on fielding.

“Gotta get the whole workout in,” Owen said.

Moms, aunts, sisters and girlfriends shag balls.

Owen was supposed to be at Major League camp in Arizona with the Padres, but it was halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. He played for Single-A and Double-A teams in the Padres organization the past two seasons, after starring at Illinois State.

Now, he’s at home in Fredonia cherishing quality time with his immediate family, grandparents and other members he doesn’t see so often, and devouring his mother’s cooking.

“This is the first spring I’ve been home since I’ve been a senior in high school,” he said.

The Padres drafted Miller in the third round with the 84th pick overall in 2018. He was soon promoted to Double-A ball and last year led the Texas League in hits and helped the Amarillo Sod Poodles to the league championship.

This year, Miller was invited to Major League camp in Arizona and was learning from fellow Padres before camp was cut short in mid-March. He roomed with a Sod Poodle teammate he lived with last season.

“It was cool just being with different big leaguers and Major League coaches. It was fun to talk to some of the guys, especially the infielders and guys that play the same position that I do,” he said.

Miller played first, second, third and shortstop in six games. He likes the middle infield but said, “It’s just nice being more versatile, learning all the positions.”

At the plate, he worked at his timing.

The team, he said, hinted at starting his season at the Triple-A level. That would be the El Paso Chihuahuas. Miller was hoping sometime during the year he would make his Major League debut.

Miller said someone from the Padres checks in with him every day to see how he is doing. Miller said he has no symptoms of the coronavirus.

He has heard talks of spring training resuming in June and the season starting in July. He doesn’t know the status of the Minor League season.

Noah appreciates having his big brother home. He made the Big East Conference first team as a shortstop and second team as a pitcher last season, and has committed to play at the university of Alabama after he graduates next year.

“It’s just awesome because usually at this time he’s not home,” Noah said.

“Just like the good old days, working out.”

If they’re not at the high school field, they lift weights and hit off a tee in their basement or play catch outside.

“If he sees something that’s off, he just helps us. He’s been in the pros a few years. He’s been giving us a lot of good insight,” Noah said.

Matt, a sophomore, is soaking up everything he can.

“It’s cool because they’ve had more experience and I get to learn from them and try to get better every time I go up there,” he said.

His father Tim will switch off with Tom in throwing batting practice.

Noah and Matt play on different teams through Hitters Baseball in Caledonia. Their seasons are slated to start in summer.  Matt already had a trip to Florida canceled but Noah’s season is so far unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic.