Aaron Miles
Encyclopedia
Aaron Wade Miles is a Major League Baseball
infielder
who is currently a free agent.
in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft
. He played in the Astros minor league system through 2000, making it as high as Class-A+ with the Kissimmee Cobras in 2000, where he hit .292 in 75 games. He was a member of the Midwest League
All-Star team in 1999.
in the minor league portion of the Rule V Draft in 2000. He played with the Double-A Birmingham Barons
in 2001-2002. In 2002 he was the MVP of the Double-A Southern League
while hitting .322 for the Barons. He was promoted to Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights
in 2003 and was the International League
Rookie of the Year. He made his Major League debut on September 11, 2003 against the Minnesota Twins
as a pinch hitter and recorded his first hit on September 18, also against Minnesota. In 8 games with the White Sox, hit had four hits (3 doubles) in 12 at-bats.
on December 2, 2003 for Juan Uribe
. He appeared in 134 games with the Rockies and finished fourth in the voting for the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year
, while hitting .293 in 134 games.
on December 7, 2005 (with Larry Bigbie
) for Ray King
.
He won a World Series
with the Cardinals in 2006.
On August 4, Aaron threw a perfect 8th inning in a 12-1 loss to the Washington Nationals
. Of Miles' nine pitches, six were for strikes. It was the first time he had pitched since he was 14 years old. Miles pitched during the game when Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa
asked his pitching coach, Dave Duncan
, "Who's our shortest reliever?" The tongue-in-cheek answer was Miles, at 5' 8". His pitching career took a turn for the worse later that season. On September 20, he pitched the 9th inning against the Houston Astros and was touched for 3 hits, including a 2-run home run by J. R. Towles
. It was Towles' first career major league home run. On June 13, 2008, Miles would make his third pitching appearance, this time against the Philadelphia Phillies
. With the Phillies leading 20-2, Miles came in to finish off the game with a perfect 9th inning while striking out Jimmy Rollins
.
On August 31, a foul ball hit by Miles struck teammate Juan Encarnación
in the face while he was in the on-deck circle, and effectively ended Encarnación's career. Encarnación suffered multiple fractures to his left eye socket and an injury to his left eye and missed the remainder of the 2007 season. The injury was regarded by the Cardinals' head team physician, Dr. George Paletta, to be the worst injury he'd ever seen to the face on a baseball player. Paletta said the eye socket was essentially crushed on impact, comparing the injured area to the disintegration of an egg shell or ice cream cone, and that the optic nerve had sustained severe trauma. Paletta also said the eyeball had not been ruptured.
Miles re-signed with the Cardinals for a one-year deal, January 4, 2008, after a non-tender and short free-agency status in December 2007.
On July 20, 2008, Miles got his first walk-off hit, a 1-out grand slam
to beat the San Diego Padres, 9-5.
. He was the primary backup infielder to second baseman
Mike Fontenot
, shortstop
Ryan Theriot
and third baseman
Aramis Ramirez
, after losing the starting job at second to Fontenot during Spring Training.
On April 3, 2009, Miles was the first ever batter at the new Yankee Stadium
. He got a base hit.
to the Oakland Athletics
for Jeff Gray
and 2 minor league prospects. On February 1, 2010, he was again traded along with a player to be named later to the Cincinnati Reds
for Willy Taveras
and Adam Rosales
. He was released on April 14, after being designated for assignment at the end of Spring Training.
On April 27, 2010, Miles signed a minor league deal to return to the Cardinals. After a brief stop in AAA, he rejoined the major league roster.
with an invitation to Spring Training. He made the opening day roster. He had his first home run as a Dodger and first in over 530 at-bats [over two years] vs Minnesota Twins
starter Brian Duensing
at Target Field
on June 28, 2011. Miles played in 136 games with the Dodgers, the most of his career, primarily due to injuries to Juan Uribe
and Casey Blake
. He hit .275 with 17 doubles.
, located in Antioch
, California
. He lives in nearby Brentwood
with his wife (Courtney), daughter (Nicole Dakota) and son (Jackson) during the offseason.
In spring training
of 2000, several of his teammates from the Houston Astros
organization were in their hotel when two gunmen burst into their room. Miles was in the next room and the gunmen took him hostage. The police arrived before the gunmen were able to take him to their getaway car, but one gunman fled the scene. The other forced Miles back into his room where he ended up wrestling the gunman to the ground. The police entered the room and shot the gunman while Miles held him to the floor. The gunman survived his wounds, and his accomplice was later captured.
Kevin Meaney
and a female audience member (claiming to be Miles' "girlfriend") during a live-recorded 2004 performance of Meaney's in Battle Creek, Michigan
(album entitled "That's Not Right!", track "Catchers & Pitchers").
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
infielder
Infielder
An infielder is a baseball player stationed at one of four defensive "infield" positions on the baseball field.-Standard arrangement of positions:In a game of baseball, two teams of nine players take turns playing offensive and defensive roles...
who is currently a free agent.
Houston Astros
Miles was originally drafted by the Houston AstrosHouston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft
1995 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1995 Major League Baseball draft.* Did not sign-Background:Outfielder Darin Erstad of the University of Nebraska was the first pick in the 1995 Rule 4 Draft. Erstad compiled a career .356 average in three seasons with the...
. He played in the Astros minor league system through 2000, making it as high as Class-A+ with the Kissimmee Cobras in 2000, where he hit .292 in 75 games. He was a member of the Midwest League
Midwest League
The Midwest League is a Class-A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians or East Frankfort White Sox, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort...
All-Star team in 1999.
Chicago White Sox
He was selected by the Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
in the minor league portion of the Rule V Draft in 2000. He played with the Double-A Birmingham Barons
Birmingham Barons
The Birmingham Barons are a minor league baseball team based in Birmingham, Alabama. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox major-league club....
in 2001-2002. In 2002 he was the MVP of the Double-A Southern League
Southern League (baseball)
The Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , and shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
while hitting .322 for the Barons. He was promoted to Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights
Charlotte Knights
The Charlotte Knights are a minor league baseball team representing Charlotte, North Carolina. The team, which plays in the International League, is the Triple-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox of the American League...
in 2003 and was the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
Rookie of the Year. He made his Major League debut on September 11, 2003 against the Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
as a pinch hitter and recorded his first hit on September 18, also against Minnesota. In 8 games with the White Sox, hit had four hits (3 doubles) in 12 at-bats.
Colorado Rockies
Miles was traded to the Colorado RockiesColorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
on December 2, 2003 for Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
. He appeared in 134 games with the Rockies and finished fourth in the voting for the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
, while hitting .293 in 134 games.
St. Louis Cardinals
Miles was traded by the Rockies to the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
on December 7, 2005 (with Larry Bigbie
Larry Bigbie
Larry Robert Bigbie is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. Bigbie last played for a MLB-affiliated team in 2007 for the Richmond Braves, the Triple-A affiliate for the Atlanta Braves organization...
) for Ray King
Ray King
Raymond Keith King is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher. King stands at 6'0" tall and weighs 265 pounds. Because of his large size, former Cardinals manager Whitey Herzog playfully referred to King as The Hefty Lefty...
.
He won a World Series
2006 World Series
The 2006 World Series, the 102nd edition of Major League Baseball's championship series, began on October 21 and ended on October 27, and matched the American League champion Detroit Tigers against the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the Series in five games, taking...
with the Cardinals in 2006.
On August 4, Aaron threw a perfect 8th inning in a 12-1 loss to the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. Of Miles' nine pitches, six were for strikes. It was the first time he had pitched since he was 14 years old. Miles pitched during the game when Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa
Anthony "Tony" La Russa, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball manager and infielder, best known for his tenures as manager of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals...
asked his pitching coach, Dave Duncan
Dave Duncan (baseball)
David Edwin Duncan is an American former professional baseball player and current pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals...
, "Who's our shortest reliever?" The tongue-in-cheek answer was Miles, at 5' 8". His pitching career took a turn for the worse later that season. On September 20, he pitched the 9th inning against the Houston Astros and was touched for 3 hits, including a 2-run home run by J. R. Towles
J. R. Towles
Justin Roberts Towles is a Major League Baseball catcher.The Oakland Athletics originally drafted him in the 32nd round and in the 23rd round in the and Major League Baseball drafts, respectively. He did not sign with them either times...
. It was Towles' first career major league home run. On June 13, 2008, Miles would make his third pitching appearance, this time against the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. With the Phillies leading 20-2, Miles came in to finish off the game with a perfect 9th inning while striking out Jimmy Rollins
Jimmy Rollins
James Calvin "Jimmy" Rollins , nicknamed "J-Roll", is an All-Star and former MVP shortstop, who most recently played for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball's National League....
.
On August 31, a foul ball hit by Miles struck teammate Juan Encarnación
Juan Encarnación
Juan De Dios Encarnación is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. His last major league team was the St. Louis Cardinals...
in the face while he was in the on-deck circle, and effectively ended Encarnación's career. Encarnación suffered multiple fractures to his left eye socket and an injury to his left eye and missed the remainder of the 2007 season. The injury was regarded by the Cardinals' head team physician, Dr. George Paletta, to be the worst injury he'd ever seen to the face on a baseball player. Paletta said the eye socket was essentially crushed on impact, comparing the injured area to the disintegration of an egg shell or ice cream cone, and that the optic nerve had sustained severe trauma. Paletta also said the eyeball had not been ruptured.
Miles re-signed with the Cardinals for a one-year deal, January 4, 2008, after a non-tender and short free-agency status in December 2007.
On July 20, 2008, Miles got his first walk-off hit, a 1-out grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
to beat the San Diego Padres, 9-5.
Chicago Cubs
On December 31, 2008, Miles signed a two-year deal with the Chicago CubsChicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
. He was the primary backup infielder to second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Mike Fontenot
Mike Fontenot
Michael Eugene "Mike" Fontenot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the San Francisco Giants.-High school career:Mike Fontenot was a standout for Salmen High School in Slidell, Louisiana...
, shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Ryan Theriot
Ryan Theriot
Ryan Stewart Theriot is a Major League Baseball infielder for the St. Louis Cardinals.Theriot is the son of Randy and Mary Theriot, and has an older brother Wes and younger brother Austin. Both his father and older brother played baseball at Broadmoor High School.Theriot graduated from Broadmoor...
and third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Aramis Ramirez
Aramis Ramírez
Aramis Nin Ramírez is an All-Star Major League Baseball third baseman for the Chicago Cubs.He started his professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998, before being traded to the Cubs in 2003. On November 12, 2006, Ramírez signed a five-year deal with the Cubs...
, after losing the starting job at second to Fontenot during Spring Training.
On April 3, 2009, Miles was the first ever batter at the new Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium was a stadium located in The Bronx in New York City, New York. It was the home ballpark of the New York Yankees from 1923 to 1973 and from 1976 to 2008. The stadium hosted 6,581 Yankees regular season home games during its 85-year history. It was also the former home of the New York...
. He got a base hit.
Oakland/Cincinnati/St. Louis
On December 3, 2009, Miles was traded along with Jake FoxJake Fox
Jacob Quirin Fox is an American professional baseball catcher and outfielder for the Pittsburgh Pirates of Major League Baseball.-Early years:...
to the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Jeff Gray
Jeff Gray (2000s pitcher)
Jeffrey Michael Gray is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Minnesota Twins of Major League Baseball. He graduated from Lafayette High School in Chesterfield, Missouri, and attended Southwest Missouri State University...
and 2 minor league prospects. On February 1, 2010, he was again traded along with a player to be named later to the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Willy Taveras
Willy Taveras
Willy Taveras is a Major League Baseball center fielder.-Houston Astros:Taveras played in 10 games at the end of the Astros season, mostly as a pinch runner....
and Adam Rosales
Adam Rosales
Adam M. Rosales is an American Major League Baseball infielder for the Oakland Athletics.He made his major league debut as a pinch hitter for the Cincinnati Reds on August 9, 2008...
. He was released on April 14, after being designated for assignment at the end of Spring Training.
On April 27, 2010, Miles signed a minor league deal to return to the Cardinals. After a brief stop in AAA, he rejoined the major league roster.
Los Angeles Dodgers
On February 7, 2011, Miles signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
with an invitation to Spring Training. He made the opening day roster. He had his first home run as a Dodger and first in over 530 at-bats [over two years] vs Minnesota Twins
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
starter Brian Duensing
Brian Duensing
Brian Matthew Duensing is a major league baseball starting pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.-High school:...
at Target Field
Target Field
Target Field is a baseball park located in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the home ballpark of the Minnesota Twins, the city's Major League Baseball franchise. It is the franchise's sixth ballpark and third in Minnesota. The Twins moved to Target Field for the 2010 Major League Baseball...
on June 28, 2011. Miles played in 136 games with the Dodgers, the most of his career, primarily due to injuries to Juan Uribe
Juan Uribe
Juan C. Uribe Tena is a Dominican Republic professional baseball infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball. He began his career in 1997 when he was signed to the Colorado Rockies, and played with the team until December 3, 2003 when he was traded to the Chicago White Sox...
and Casey Blake
Casey Blake
William Casey Blake is a Major League Baseball third baseman who is currently a free agent.Blake previously played with the Toronto Blue Jays, Minnesota Twins, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers. He had alternated between playing at third base and first base before...
. He hit .275 with 17 doubles.
Personal life
He is a graduate of Antioch High SchoolAntioch High School
Antioch High School is a public high school located in Antioch, California, USA. It is located at 700 West 18th Street between G and L Streets. It is a comprehensive high school for grades 9-12. There are about 120 teachers, and 20 maintenance and office staff. The administration consists of 1...
, located in Antioch
Antioch, California
Antioch is a city in Contra Costa County, California. Located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area along the San Joaquin-Sacramento River Delta, it is a suburb of San Francisco and Oakland. The city's population was 102,372 at the U.S...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He lives in nearby Brentwood
Brentwood, California
Brentwood is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. It is located in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 51,481 as of 2010....
with his wife (Courtney), daughter (Nicole Dakota) and son (Jackson) during the offseason.
In spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
of 2000, several of his teammates from the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
organization were in their hotel when two gunmen burst into their room. Miles was in the next room and the gunmen took him hostage. The police arrived before the gunmen were able to take him to their getaway car, but one gunman fled the scene. The other forced Miles back into his room where he ended up wrestling the gunman to the ground. The police entered the room and shot the gunman while Miles held him to the floor. The gunman survived his wounds, and his accomplice was later captured.
In Popular Culture
Discussed by comedianComedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
Kevin Meaney
Kevin Meaney
Kevin Gerard Meaney is an American stand-up comedian and actor. He has been involved in a number of television programs, having been featured on Dr. Katz, Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Garfield and Friends, Rocko's Modern Life, London Underground, and Duckman, among others...
and a female audience member (claiming to be Miles' "girlfriend") during a live-recorded 2004 performance of Meaney's in Battle Creek, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
(album entitled "That's Not Right!", track "Catchers & Pitchers").