By STEVE KRAH
Jaden Miller competed in football, wrestling, swimming and baseball as an athlete at NorthWood High School in Nappanee, Ind.
A 2020 NWHS graduate, he did not get to play baseball on the turf at NorthWood’s Field of Dream Complex as a Panther since that made its debut in 2023.
But the 5-foot-9, 200-pound Miller does romp on the carpet this summer with the Northern League’s Elkhart County Miracle. The first-year franchise plays home games at NorthWood.
“It is pretty cool,” says Miller, who was born in Goshen, Ind., and grew up in Nappanee. “In high school there was talk of us getting a turf field complex, but it was just rumors.
“I’m pretty excited for the kids nowadays that they have this facility. It’s definitely one of the nicest in northern Indiana.”
Patrolling center field for the Wilson Valera-managed Miracle, Miller has played in 30 games, the righty swinger is hitting .281 (27-of-96) with one triple, six doubles, 15 runs batted in, 16 runs scored, a .780 OPS (.415 on-base percentage plus .365 slugging average) and 10 stolen bases.
“I’m just trying to keep my weight back, really jump on the fastball and be aggressive,” says Miller of his offensive approach. “I don’t try to think too much in the (batter’s) box.
“I try to steal on the first couple of pitches if we’re not laying down a bunt. It just depends on how my legs are feeling that day.”
The right-handed thrower has also logged two innings on the mound for the Miracle.
Miller switched from the infield to the outfield around his 15U summer (he played much of his travel ball for the Michiana Scrappers).
“I bounced around out there,” says Miller. “I found my home in the center field the past couple of years.
“In the infield you’re kind of secluded to your own spot. In the outfield you have more range and I like to go out there and roam.”
His Twitter page (@jadenmillerr) shows a photo of him laying out for a catch in the Miracle’s first-ever game on May 31 .
Miller began his post-high school career at Danville (Ill.) Area Community College.
In 22 games (all starts) in 2021, he hit .239 (16-of-67) with four RBIs, 15 runs, .329 on-base percentage and nine stolen bases.
Miller played in 40 games (39 starts) in 2022 and hit .341 (46-of-135) with four homers, two triples, 10 doubles, 32 RBIs, 31 runs, a .948 OPS (.415/.533) and 19 stolen bases.
“They have a great fan base,” says Miller of the Clayton Hicks-coached DACC Jaguars. “It’s pretty cool having kids coming up to you wanting you to sign baseballs and stuff like that (at Elkhart County Miracle games) and just asking about the game. It gives you a little bit of meaning. You’re playing for somebody else other than individual stats or whatnot.
“It gives you a little bit of perspective. It is a game. Just go out there and have fun. People are looking up to you. Don’t have a poor attitude about it.
“God gifted you with the ability to go out there and play a game so you have fun with it.”
Miller transferred to Indiana Tech — an NAIA school in Fort Wayne, Ind. — and split his time between the JV and varsity for the Kip McWilliams-coached Warriors.
With the Tech varsity in 2023, Miller got into 10 games (two as a starter), scored three runs and stole one base.
“I’ve grown a lot there,” says Miller. “There’s been some bumps in the road, but I couldn’t be happier to be there.”
With two full teams, Tech has a competitive atmosphere for playing time or a spot on the travel roster.
“It definitely keeps you on your toes,” says Miller. “You just come ready to practice and play hard.”
He is an Exercise Science/Strength and Conditioning major.
Jay Sheets was head baseball coach at NorthWood when Miller was a freshman, playing on the junior varsity for Greg Estepp.
A.J. Risedorph took over as head coach in Miller’s sophomore year.
“It’s just his experience mixed with his confidence that makes him a great coach,” says Miller of Risedorph, who was a pitcher at Indiana Purdue Fort Wayne (now Purdue Fort Wayne). “He’s able to speak up and not only coach you up as a player but coach you up as a person.”
When throwing to his players, Risedorph usually tossed “BP fastballs.”
But not always.
“Every now and then he would whip off a couple curveballs, change-ups or two-seamers and show off a little bit,” says Miller. “He was pretty cool to be around.”
Miller broke his leg during his freshman football season. Since he could not put pressure on the limb, he made swimming his winter sport that year rather than wrestling. Brother Ethan Miller (NorthWood Class of 2019) was also on the squad and also in football, wrestling and baseball.
Their mother — Jodi Miller (who is now the nurse at NorthWood) — was a swimmer at Goshen High School.
“She really pushed me on that,” says Jaden. “It was great rehab for my leg.
“I had a great time.”
He went back to football the next fall, wrestling the next winter and baseball the next spring. His senior baseball season was called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jaden’s father — Danny Miller — is co-owner of Gen-Y Hitch in Nappanee.
Ethan Miller played baseball at Kalamazoo (Mich.) Valley Community College. Youngest brother Devin Miller is heading into the eighth grade. He is in football, baseball and golf.
Through games played July 2, the Elkhart County Miracle (13-17) are in fourth place in the six-team league standings. The top four teams make the Northern League playoffs.
www.IndianaRBI.com 