The Cleveland Guardians continued their weekend series against the Colorado Rockies while making a quiet roster move that few fans noticed right away. The club released right-handed pitcher Jake Miller from its Triple-A affiliate in Columbus during the three-game set.
On Sunday the Guardians aimed to complete a sweep of the Rockies. Cleveland entered the day with a 64-66 record, sitting in second place in the American League Central. The team trailed the Chicago White Sox by 3½ games and still held out hope for an AL wild-card berth despite finishing below .500.
Miller’s departure marked the end of his time in the Guardians organization. According to the team’s transactions list, the 26-year-old was cut loose from the Columbus Clippers.
MLB.com wrote (on 8/23): “Columbus Clippers released RHP Jake Miller.”
The move came after a difficult stretch for the pitcher at the Triple-A level this season. Miller posted a 7.35 ERA over 49 innings, recording 41 strikeouts along the way. Those numbers stood in contrast to the steadier results he had shown earlier in his minor-league career.
Cleveland selected Miller in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB draft. He spent his entire professional career in the Guardians system, working his way through the various levels of the minor leagues.
Before this year’s struggles in Columbus, Miller’s overall minor-league numbers looked respectable. He finished with a 14-11 record, a 4.84 ERA, 118 appearances that included 20 starts, five saves, 210.1 innings pitched and 191 strikeouts. His career WHIP sat at 1.34. His strongest showing came in 2025, when he combined for a 2.86 ERA across 66 innings at the Double-A and Triple-A levels.
That performance raised expectations heading into the current season. The sharp rise in his ERA this year, however, ultimately led to the decision to release him.
With the Guardians still fighting for postseason positioning, the organization chose to clear space and move on from the young arm. Miller is now a free agent and can sign with any major-league club that sees potential in his arm.
At 26 he remains young enough that another organization might offer him a fresh start, especially given the solid body of work he compiled before this season.
For Cleveland the release represents a low-key transaction amid a competitive stretch of the schedule. The Guardians have focused primarily on the standings race and their series against Colorado, leaving the Miller news to surface through official transaction reports rather than a formal announcement.
Whether the pitcher finds a new home remains to be seen, but his previous minor-league success suggests he still has time to rebuild his path in professional baseball.
The Guardians, meanwhile, turn their attention back to the field as they push to stay within reach of both the division lead and a wild-card spot.
