Brad Miller first joined the Philadelphia Phillies in 2019 and boy has it been a fun ride. Miller arrived in Philly and soon grabbed the hearts of fans across the city. Brad was traded from the New York Yankees in June of 2019 for cash considerations. He became the utility guy for the Phils following Andrew McCutchen’s ACL injury. Miller would be the first player off the bench and his bat would prove why he belonged in that role. Miller could flat out smack the cover off the ball and his power instantly helped the club. Miller went 6 for 16 with 2 home runs in his first few games with the ballclub.
A few weeks into his tenure with the Phillies, the team was struggling. Following a seven-game losing streak, Miller saw the opportunity to help create a spark with his teammates and thus the infamous bamboo plant story began.
Now rocking the “Bamboo Brad” nickname, Miller’s love from the fans skyrocketed. The team was all in on the bamboo idea, although it lasted a very short lifespan.
Miller would bat .263 in his first season in Philly and hit 12 home runs. In the following off-season, he would sign a one-year deal with the St. Louis Cardinals. Following the 2020 season, Miller and the Phillies would agree to a one-year contract to bring back the powerful lefty.
Miller Time
Entering the season there was a lot of optimism for the Phillies’ bench unit. Led by Bamboo Brad, the Phillies offense looked strong on paper and many felt like it could carry the club. While the season unraveled at points, there would be no lack of moments involving Brad Miller.
Miller would be the first Phillies player since Jayson Werth to hit 3 three home runs in a single game. On July 8th, Brad would absolutely torment the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley. Filling in for Rhys Hoskins, who was red hot at the time, many questioned why Joe Girardi would bench Rhys. Brad Miller proved the doubters wrong and carried the Phillies to a victory.
Moments like this did not stop coming for Miller. Brad was the hero in many instances including a walk-off double against the San Diego Padres on July 2nd. If there was one highlight to define Brad Miller’s season in Philly it would be the following. The Phillies were trailing 7-0 to the Washington Nationals in Game 2 of a doubleheader. After losing the first game things looked bleak for a Phillies team fighting for the playoffs. The club would slowly fight their way back into the game against the Nationals. It would head to extras and Brad Miller sent the remaining fans home happy.
Bring Back Brad
Aside from the memorable moments with Brad Miller, he has been a very good player for the Phillies. Over the course of two seasons (2019,2021), Brad played in 206 games. In those games, he hit .236 with 32 home runs and 70 runs batted in.
For a player whose primary use is to come off the bench, Miller was been worth the money. A good clubhouse guy who knows the team and the city is very important when trying to build a contender. Bamboo Brad has made his mark in Philadelphia and the team could use his lefty handed swing off the bench again in 2022. Whether or not Dave Dombrowski can strike a cheap deal with Miller or if he signs elsewhere, Phillies fans will be rooting for Brad wherever he ends up.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
