Cats Miller second-ranked among Canadian draft prospects

According to the Canadian Baseball Network, the Thunder Bay Border Cats have the second-best Canadian prospect heading into next month’s annual Major League Baseball draft.

Miller, a White Rock, B.C. native who made all but one of his 28 appearances in relief for the Cats last summer, was 7-2 with 30 strikeouts and 29 walks in 52 innings for the Cats in 2010.

Only Tom Robson, who starred on the mound for Canada at the 2010 World Junior Baseball Championship, is ranked higher than Miller, who toiled for Yavapai College in Arizona, where he compiled a 6-2 record with a 1.80 ERA.

Other national junior team members listed in the top 20 are right-hander Jesen Dygestile-Therrien and infielders Justin Atkinson and Jalen Harris.

Of note, Trevor Gretzky, son of the Great One, Wayne Gretzky, is 15th. A first baseman and catcher, he’s committed to play at San Diego State University.

Former Cats pitcher Corey Pappel, who was 5-4 last season with a 3.63 ERA, is also among the 58 Canadians prospects singled out by the organization.

Also expected to get a look is left-hander Brad Delatte, a newcomer from Louisiana’s Nicholls State University.

The draft is scheduled for June 6 to 8.