Owen Miller Drafted by San Diego Padres

NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State junior shortstop Owen Miller has been selected in the third round of the 2018 Major League Baseball Draft, by the San Diego Padres with the 84th overall pick in the draft.

Miller is the 38th Redbird drafted since 1969, and is the third-highest draft pick during that era for Illinois State (behind only Neal Cotts and Dave Bergman who were each picked in the second round), and is the 10th top-10 round draftee in program history.

Miller led the Redbirds in hits, setting a new single-season record in the process with 88. He batted .384 with 45 runs scored, six home runs, 35 RBI's, and a .537 slugging percentage and .433 on-base percentage (.970 OPS). He also led the team with eight stolen bases, while committing just five errors in 183 chances in the field (a .973 fielding percentage).

He had 26 multi-hit games during the season, and was named to the All-Missouri Valley Conference First Team, and to the All-MVC Academic Team. He had his highlight game of the season on May 13 against Valparaiso, when he hit for the cycle against the Crusaders.

The Redbirds ended the 2018 season with a 22-30 record, and faced five teams that advanced to the NCAA Tournament (going 7-10 in those games), and two teams that have advanced to the Super Regional (going 4-3 against those teams).

Redbird baseball draft picks