SEATTLE -- There was some irony in the fact Ian Miller was named the Ken Griffey Jr. Minor League Hitter of the Year Award winner by the Mariners this past season.
It would have been far more fitting if the honor was named after Ichiro Suzuki, one of Miller's favorite players growing up and the kind of speedy and impactful leadoff-type hitter that the 25-year-old envisions himself being.
Miller was selected as the Mariners' top offensive Minor Leaguer after hitting .307/.355./.393 with four homers, 35 RBIs and 43 stolen bases in 124 games between Double-A Arkansas and Triple-A Tacoma.