Clemson baseball: Brad Miller, Eli White contributing with Rangers

Two former Tigers are contributing for the rebuilding Texas Rangers.

Clemson baseball alumni Brad Miller and Eli White are currently teammates with the Texas Rangers.

Some were surprised when the Rangers signed Miller after awarding more than a half a billion dollars in long term contracts for middle infielders.

Miller however has proven to be a valuable utility piece for an improved Rangers team that’s still rebuilding.

Miller has started nine games at third base, nine in left field and two as the designated hitter, while batting .202 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI in 94 at bats for 18-20 Texas.

The 32 year old Miller was originally a second round pick of the Mariners in 2011, and has played for the Mariners, Tampa Bay, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Philadelphia and St. Louis in addition to Texas.

The 27 year old White, a graduate of Wren High School in Piedmont, was an 11th round draft pick of the Oakland A’s in 2016.

White has started 13 games in centerfield and 8 in left for the Rangers this season, batting .207 with a home run and 5 RBI while going 8 for 8 on stolen bases.

This is White’s third season with the Rangers and over 304 at-bats he’s hitting only .184 with 7 home runs and 23 RBI.

At Clemson from 2014-2016 White batted .275 with 8 home runs and 61 RBI in 517 at bats.

The A’s traded White to Texas in a three team deal in December of 2018 that also included the Tampa Bay Rays.

Miller signed a two-year free agent deal with Texas for ten million dollars, including six million dollars in 2022 and four million dollars in 2023.

At Clemson, where he played shortstop from 2009-2011, Miller batted .339 with 16 home runs and 135 RBI over 191 games, including .357 as a sophomore and .395 as a junior.

Miller’s situation is more stable, while White’s future is in question

While Miller’s salary and role are guaranteed through the 2023 season, White is in a much more tenuous situation as the Rangers continue to rebuild with hopes of contending in an American League West that includes the powerhouse Houston Astros, loaded Los Angeles Angels and young and improving Seattle Mariners.