Alec Mills

Alec Thomas Mills (born November 30, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City Royals, Chicago Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds. The Royals selected Mills in the 22nd round of the 2012 MLB draft.

For the Australian professional footballer, see Alec Mills (soccer).
Alec Mills
Mills with the Chicago Cubs in 2019
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1991-11-30) November 30, 1991
Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
May 18, 2016, for the Kansas City Royals
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record12–14
Earned run average5.00
Strikeouts213
Teams
Career highlights and awards

College career

Mills attended Montgomery Central High School in Cunningham, Tennessee. He played college baseball at the University of Tennessee at Martin as a walk-on.[1] Mills played at UT Martin from 2010-12. He developed from a freshman walk-on relief pitcher who went 2-3 with an 8.51 ERA, to a setup reliever as a sophomore who went 7-4 with a 6.82 ERA, and eventually to a starting pitcher during his junior campaign going 4-6 with a 3.94 ERA.[2]

In 2011, Mills notched seven victories and three saves while making 30 appearances for a Skyhawk squad that won an OVC Tournament game for the first time. Mills ranks on UT Martin's top-10 career list in appearances (67, sixth), strikeouts (165, seventh) and wins (13, eighth).

Professional career

Kansas City Royals

After his junior year of college, the Kansas City Royals selected Mills in the 22nd round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He signed with the Royals and made his professional debut with the Idaho Falls Chukars, and was 1-4 with a 4.62 ERA.[3] He spent 2013 with the Lexington Legends, 2014 with Idaho Falls and Lexington and 2015 with the Wilmington Blue Rocks.[4] The Royals added him to their 40-man roster after the season.[5]

Mills with the Omaha Storm Chasers in 2016

Mills began the 2016 season with the Northwest Arkansas Naturals of the Double–A Texas League.[6] The Royals promoted Mills to the major leagues on May 18,[7] and he made his major league debut that day. In 2016, in 3.1 innings he gave up five earned runs.[3] On February 8, 2017, Mills was designated for assignment by the Royals.[8]

Chicago Cubs

On February 8, 2017, the Royals traded Mills to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor leaguer Donnie Dewees.[9] Assigned to the Iowa Cubs of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, he made seven appearances during the 2017 season, spending much of the year on the disabled list with a left ankle contusion and then a strained right forearm.[10]

After returning to Iowa in 2018, the Cubs promoted Mills to start his first MLB game for injured Tyler Chatwood against the Cincinnati Reds on August 24, 2018. He also got his first hit in the same game.[11] He spent most of 2019 with Iowa, where he was 6-4 with a 5.11 ERA.[12]

Mills joined the Cubs rotation in the 2020 season after José Quintana began the season on the injured list. On September 13, 2020, Mills no-hit the Milwaukee Brewers 12–0 at Miller Park. He threw 74 of 114 pitches for strikes while striking out five and walking three. It marked the 16th no-hitter in the Cubs franchise history.[13] Mills finished the 2020 season with a 5–5 record and a 4.48 ERA in 11 starts.[14] His home runs per nine innings rate (1.9) was the highest among qualified NL pitchers.[14] Mills made 32 appearances (20 starts) for Chicago in 2021, posting a 6-7 record and 5.07 ERA with 87 strikeouts in 119.0 innings pitched.

On May 19, 2022, Mills was placed on the 60-day injured list with a back injury.[15] After making four rehab starts, he was activated on June 7.[16] In 7 games (2 starts) for Chicago, he struggled to a 9.68 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 17+2⁄3 innings pitched. On September 15, Mills underwent surgery to remove part of a disc in his back, and missed the remainder of the season.[17] On November 10, Mills was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple–A Iowa; he elected free agency the same day.[18][19]

Cincinnati Reds

On May 18, 2023, Mills signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds organization.[20] After two starts with the rookie–level Arizona Complex League Reds, Mills was elevated to the Triple–A Louisville Bats. In two starts for Louisville, he posted a 4.50 ERA with one strikeout in six innings of work. On June 27, Mills had his contract selected to the major league roster.[21] He appeared out of the bullpen in a game against the San Diego Padres, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits and one walk in one inning of work.[22] On July 2, Mills was designated for assignment by Cincinnati.[23] He cleared waivers and was sent outright to Louisville on July 4.[24] On October 2, Mills elected free agency.[25]

Personal

Mills and his wife, Paige, welcomed their first child, a son, in 2020.[26]

References
  1. "Montgomery Central product drafted".
  2. "Alec Mills Player Card - The Baseball Cube". www.thebaseballcube.com.
  3. "Alec Mills Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  4. "Alec Mills keeps climbing in the Kansas City Royals system - Baseball Essential". October 31, 2015. Archived from the original on November 19, 2015. Retrieved November 18, 2015.
  5. "Rockies' John Axford designated for assignment". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  6. "Texas notes: Mills making most of his shot | MiLB.com". Archived from the original on May 18, 2016. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  7. "Royals summon pitcher Alec Mills as 26th player for doubleheader". Archived from the original on June 25, 2016.
  8. Adams, Steve (February 8, 2017). "Royals Designate Alec Mills For Assignment". mlbtraderumors.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  9. "Royals acquire Dewees in exchange for Mills". MLB.com. February 8, 2017. Archived from the original on February 11, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  10. "How Iowa pitcher Alec Mills got better in 2017 despite missing most of the season". Desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
  11. "Cubs place Tyler Chatwood on DL, select Alec Mills to pitch Friday". chicagotribune.com. August 24, 2018. Archived from the original on August 24, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
  12. "Alec Mills Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com.
  13. "Alec Mills throws Chicago Cubs' first no-hitter since 2016". CBSSports.com.
  14. "2020 National League Standard Pitching". Baseball-Reference.com.
  15. "Cubs' Alec Mills: Transferred to 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  16. "Cubs' Alec Mills: Reinstated Tuesday". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  17. "Cubs' Alec Mills: Undergoes surgery". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  18. "Chicago Cubs Outright Multiple Players Including Reyes". si.com. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  19. "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". baseballamerica.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  20. "Reds' Alec Mills: Inks minors deal with Cincinnati". cbssports.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  21. "Reds call up Alec Mills, designate Jake Wong for assignment". redlegnation.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  22. "Reds' Alec Mills: Debuts out of bullpen". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  23. "Reds' Alec Mills: Cast off 40-man roster". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  24. "Reds' Alec Mills: Outrighted to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  25. "Alec Mills: Elects free agency". cbssports.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  26. "Alec Mills on being a father". May 16, 2020.
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