Indians demote Aubrey, Miller

The talented but much-injured prospects were optioned to the minors.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Cleveland Indians prospects Michael Aubrey and Adam Miller figure it’s about time for some good fortune and even better health.

Both have encountered so many injuries they must wonder if there was a full moon the day each was a first-round draft pick in 2003.

“You can’t help thinking, ‘Why does this keep happening to me?’ ” said Aubrey, a first baseman who has been sidelined by various leg, hamstring and back ailments in five straight seasons as a pro.

“People don’t say hello anymore, they say, ‘How are you feeling?’ That could be frustrating, if I let it. Heck, I sometimes wonder what’s next, too.”

Miller, a right-hander whose fastball has reached 100 mph when he’s injury-free, hasn’t spent quite as much time in the trainer’s room, though elbow and finger ailments have delayed his development.

“I figure let’s get all the injuries out of the way early and then go pitch for 15 years,” Miller said. “I don’t look at it as being jinxed, but it has been a strange string of bad luck.”

While Aubrey has looked limber this spring, Miller has yet to throw a pitch in competition because of a blistered right middle finger.

“Hopefully, this is the last thing that goes wrong,” Miller said as he, Aubrey and other minor-leaguers went to the back fields to do their work Tuesday morning.

On Monday, both star-crossed prospects were optioned to the minors. Each said they were disappointed but even more determined to eventually display their talents on the big-league level.

“I’m never quitting until I get to where I should be, and that’s the major leagues,” said Aubrey, an 11th overall pick who has a .301 career average when he’s been able to play. “I’ve faced major-league pitchers in spring training and I’m confident enough to know I can play on their level.”

Miller came within a whisker of making Cleveland’s opening-day roster a year ago by pitching 14 scoreless innings in spring camp. Sent to Triple-A Buffalo for just a tad more seasoning, he again found the injury bug.

The tall Texan, selected 31st overall out of high school five years ago, went 4-1 with a 2.45 ERA for the Bisons before straining a ligament in his right middle finger and missing five weeks. He later was sidelined a month with an inflamed right elbow. He had missed most of the 2005 season with an elbow strain.

“The elbow is fine, the finger is fine, at least until I got the blister here this year,” Miller said. “Now, that’s cleared up too.”

The 23-year-old showed what he could do when healthy in 2006 at Double-A Akron, going 15-6 with a 2.75 ERA and more than a strikeout an inning.

Manager Eric Wedge said it has never been a question of talent with either prospect, though concerns obviously linger as to their durability.

“We need to see Aubrey healthy over an extended period,” Wedge said of the 26-year-old out of Tulane University. “We need to be able to count on people physically.”

Wedge was disappointed he didn’t get to use Miller in a game.

“By the time Adam would be ready, there wouldn’t be any innings to be had,” Wedge said of deciding to send out the right-hander in the first roster cuts. “You’re disappointed for him that he didn’t get a chance to go out there, but there’s nothing anybody can do about it. We’re hopeful it’s behind him now.”

The Indians have envisioned Miller as a top-of-the-rotation starter, but don’t nix the possibility he could go to the bullpen to relieve wear and tear on his arm.

“It’s too early to determine that,” Wedge said. “We still see him as a starter, but I would not rule that out.”