Padres' Mason Miller Predicted to Make MLB History in 2026

ESPN ranks the 27-year-old closer as the 60th best player in baseball ahead of the 2026 season.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Mason Miller was ranked as the 60th best player in Major League Baseball in ESPN's Top 100 list ahead of the 2026 season. Miller, who was acquired by the Padres at last year's trade deadline, was untouchable after joining San Diego, allowing two earned runs over 23.1 innings for a 0.77 ERA. ESPN's Buster Olney predicted that Miller "will post one of the best seasons ever for a relief pitcher" in 2026.

Why it matters

The Padres' decision to trade their top prospect Leo De Vries to the Athletics for Miller at the deadline last year will be debated for years, but the early returns suggest San Diego has one of the most dominant relievers in MLB history. Miller's overpowering stuff and ability to rack up strikeouts could make him a historically great closer.

The details

Miller, 27, was acquired by the Padres at last year's trade deadline in a blockbuster trade that sent San Diego's top prospect Leo De Vries to the Athletics. After joining the Padres, Miller was untouchable, allowing just two earned runs over 23.1 innings for a 0.77 ERA. He enters the 2026 season as arguably the best closer in MLB, with a fastball that has been clocked at 104 mph and a breaking ball that is "simply unfair" according to ESPN.

  • Miller was acquired by the Padres at last year's trade deadline.
  • Miller allowed two earned runs over 23.1 innings for a 0.77 ERA after joining the Padres.

The players

Mason Miller

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher for the San Diego Padres who was ranked as the 60th best player in Major League Baseball in ESPN's Top 100 list ahead of the 2026 season.

Leo De Vries

The Padres' top prospect who was traded to the Athletics in the deal that brought Mason Miller to San Diego.

Robert Suarez

The Padres' former closer who departed in free agency, opening the door for Mason Miller to take over as the team's shutdown closer.

Ruben Niebla

The Padres' pitching coach who said the team decided Miller was better off being the team's closer rather than transitioning to the starting rotation.

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What they’re saying

“Once Miller joined the Padres, he became a cheat code disguised as a pitcher, freezing hitters with a fastball that has been clocked at 104 mph and a breaking ball which, because of the fastball, is simply unfair.”

— ESPN staff (ESPN)

“he will post one of the best seasons ever for a relief pitcher”

— Buster Olney (ESPN)

“Having the take of the pitcher himself — what he wants to do, where he feels comfortable — if there was a strong desire for him to start, we probably would have shifted and allowed him to do that. But we also understand who we have in Mason Miller as possibly, arguably, the best closer in baseball.”

— Ruben Niebla, Padres pitching coach (SI.com)

“I'm focused on this year, of course. We'll always have conversations, and I love how good the communication is here. I don't feel like decisions are being made without me being a part of them. … Hopefully, touch wood, we have a lot of time together here. And who knows where it goes?”

— Mason Miller (SI.com)

What’s next

The Padres will have Mason Miller under team control until 2030, giving them plenty of time to potentially transition him to the starting rotation at some point if they choose to do so.

The takeaway

The Padres' decision to trade a top prospect for Mason Miller at the deadline last year is already paying dividends, as the hard-throwing closer has emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in baseball. Miller's overpowering stuff and ability to rack up strikeouts could make him a historically great closer, further justifying the Padres' bold trade.