Mason Miller has established himself as one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, but don't expect the San Diego Padres flamethrower to start chasing the kind of success Jacob Misiorowski enjoyed as a starting pitcher.
Miller was asked on Foul Territory about the possibility of becoming a starter and gave a humorous response while discussing the Milwaukee Brewers ace.
“Maybe in some delusional land, yeah. In some delusional world, I am still starting,” Miller said.
The Padres star also had plenty of praise for Misiorowski, who took home the National League Cy Young Award after an incredible 2026 campaign.
“I think velocity is exciting. I've always said for Miz the most impressive thing is his strike-throwing ability. The stuff is off the charts. His consistency throughout the season,” Miller said.
There is plenty of reason for Miller to appreciate what Misiorowski accomplished. Both pitchers can overpower hitters with elite velocity, but Misiorowski proved he could maintain that dominance over a full season as a starter. Miller, meanwhile, just earned NL Reliever of the Year honors after putting together a phenomenal season of his own.
Miller finished 2026 with a 1.67 ERA and 129 strikeouts across 70 innings. He also recorded 38 saves, establishing himself as one of the most feared late-inning weapons in the National League. This could be the first of several major awards for the Padres closer.
Misiorowski and Miller have become two of the most exciting arms in the sport, but their postseason paths went in very different directions. Milwaukee eliminated San Diego in the NLDS before eventually capturing the World Series title. The Padres were the only team to defeat the Brewers in the postseason until Tampa Bay finally got to them in Game 4 of the World Series.
Milwaukee isn't going anywhere anytime soon, especially with Misiorowski leading its rotation. San Diego, meanwhile, reportedly plans to go all-in this offseason as it looks to close the gap on the National League's top contenders.