Padres' Mason Miller Aims for Historic MLB Feat

Closer needs "domination and luck" to hold opponents under .100 batting average

Mar. 16, 2026 at 3:33pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller, who was traded from the Athletics last year, is one of the most unhittable pitchers in baseball. The 27-year-old right-hander posted a 0.77 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 23.1 innings with the Padres in 2025. ESPN's David Schoenfield believes Miller has a chance to make MLB history by holding opponents to a sub-.100 batting average with 50 or more innings pitched in a season, but will require "a mix of domination and luck" to accomplish the feat.

Why it matters

No reliever has ever held opponents to a sub-.100 batting average with 50 or more innings thrown in a season. If Miller can pull it off, he would cement his status as one of the most dominant closers in the game.

The details

Miller, a 6-foot-5 right-hander, has a blistering fastball and wicked slider that make him nearly unhittable. Last night, he recorded the save for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic semifinals against the Dominican Republic, striking out Geraldo Perdomo to strand the tying run on third base. The Padres considered transitioning Miller to a starting pitcher, but he's best suited to get the final three outs of a game.

  • Last night, Miller recorded the save for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic semifinals.

The players

Mason Miller

A 27-year-old right-handed closer for the San Diego Padres who was traded from the Oakland Athletics last year. He posted a 0.77 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 23.1 innings with the Padres in 2025.

Aroldis Chapman

The Boston Red Sox closer who held opponents to a .132 batting average last season, the closest any reliever has come to a sub-.100 average.

Geraldo Perdomo

A player for the Dominican Republic team that faced off against Team USA in the World Baseball Classic semifinals, where Miller recorded the save.

David Schoenfield

An ESPN writer who analyzed Miller's chances of making MLB history by holding opponents to a sub-.100 batting average.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As for a sub-.100 average? Given that Miller averaged 15.2 strikeouts per nine innings, he's not allowing many balls in play, that's for sure. I'm taking the over, since a sub-.100 average will require a mix of domination and luck on balls in play, but this will be one to monitor.”

— David Schoenfield, ESPN Writer (ESPN)

What’s next

The Padres will continue to rely on Miller as their closer in the 2026 MLB season, as he looks to make history with a sub-.100 batting average against.

The takeaway

Mason Miller's dominant performance as the Padres' closer, including his save in the World Baseball Classic semifinals, has him on the verge of potentially making MLB history. However, achieving a sub-.100 batting average against will require an unprecedented level of dominance and luck, as no reliever has ever accomplished the feat before.