June 4, 2008

TUCSON, ARIZ. - University of California freshman right-hander Kevin Miller has been named a 2008 Collegiate Baseball Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American, it was announced Wednesday, June 4 by the baseball publication's editor, Lou Pavlovich, Jr. Miller now joins a list of four other Golden Bears who have been selected Freshman All-Americans - second baseman Brian Oliver in 1996, second baseman Xavier Nady in 1998, second baseman Josh Satin in 2005 and outfielder/infielder Jeff Kobernus in 2007. Nady was tabbed National Freshman of the Year in 1998 by both Collegiate Baseball and Baseball America as well.

This past spring, Miller (San Jose, Valley Christian High School) was also named honorable mention All-Pac-10, finishing the year 6-1 with a 2.90 ERA. He had 68 strikeouts in 71.1 innings and started his college career in impressive fashion, not giving up an earned run in his first 44.0 innings on the mound. Miller is currently in first place in the Pac-10 with his 2.90 ERA and is second in the league with a .196 opponent batting average.

Some of Miller's top games this season included striking out a career-high eight batters in 6.2 innings versus Washington on Apr. 19, and defeating two-time defending national champion Oregon State in relief, throwing 6.2 innings with seven strikeouts. He ended making 21 appearances with five starts, picking up six straight wins from Mar. 11 through May 11. Miller was earlier on the Wallace Award Watch List as potential national player of the year candidate.

Miller is the third Cal player to earn All-America honors this season. On May 29, junior first baseman David Cooper and senior second baseman Satin were selected Louisville Slugger third-team All-Americans. The Bears' program has now claimed 37 baseball All-Americans in school history.

The Bears had seven players honored by the Pac-10 - first-team selections Cooper, Satin and junior right-hander Tyson Ross; and four honorable mention picks - junior outfielder/catcher Charlie Cutler, junior right-hander Matt Gorgen, sophomore center fielder Brett Jackson and Miller.

Cal ended the 2008 campaign 33-21-2 overall and 12-12 (fourth) in the Pac-10. The Bears qualified for postseason play for the first time since 2001, traveling to the Long Beach Regional last weekend were they fell to the University of San Diego (5-0) and Long Beach State (9-2).