FORT MYERS, Fla. — Wade Miley’s next start at Fenway Park will be his first. It’ll also be special.
The Boston Red Sox acquired Miley from the Arizona Diamondbacks in December as part of their rotation rebuild. The 28-year-old left-hander is looking to bounce back from a lackluster 2014 in the desert, and he’s fully embracing the opportunity to pitch in the shadows of the Green Monster.
“Hopefully it knocks a couple of balls down,” Miley joked Friday of the 37-foot wall at Fenway. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a dream come true to get to play in a place that has so much history with it.”
Miley was an All-Star during his rookie season in 2012. The former first-round pick finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting that year after going 16-11 with a 3.33 ERA in 32 appearances (29 starts). While Miley has tailed off a bit the last two seasons, the Red Sox liked him enough to part with prospects Rubby De La Rosa and Allen Webster, both of whom were highly regarded when Boston acquired them from the Los Angeles Dodgers as part of an August 2012 blockbuster.
“The one thing is there’s three years of nearly 200 innings per year,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said of Miley, who’s made at least 29 starts each of the last three seasons. “He’s got the ability to put the ball on the ground. He’s left-handed, he’s durable. Those are the things that attracted us to him.
“Spring training is going to go a long way toward understanding what makes him most efficient and works best.”
It’s unclear where exactly Miley will slot into the Red Sox’s rotation, which consists of several pitchers with upside yet no clear-cut ace. He’ll likely be the lone southpaw within the unit to begin the season, as Clay Buchholz, Rick Porcello, Joe Kelly and Justin Masterson all are right-handed.
Right now, Miley, who signed a three-year contract extension with Boston following the trade from Arizona, still is familiarizing himself with his new organization after spending his entire career in the D-Backs system. The early signs are encouraging, though, as the Red Sox haven’t been shy about making moves in an attempt to bounce back from last season’s debacle.
“Definitely looking forward to it,” Miley said. “Obviously the history here in Boston and what they did this offseason in going to get the guys they got. It’s definitely exciting.
“It’s pretty ridiculous,” Miley added of the talent general manager Ben Cherington and Co. assembled before spring training. “There’s a lot of very talented guys. Like I said, the Red Sox organization obviously did a really good job of putting together a full-on team, and I’m looking forward to pitching in front of those guys defensively and watching them swing it.”
There are questions surrounding the Red Sox’s rotation this season, and Miley isn’t immune to the outside skepticism. But he, like the several others who reported to camp early, seemingly has a chip on his shoulder.
Miley’s first start at Fenway might not be the only one that’s special.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports Images
