If you watch him play, Myles Miller looks like your everyday all-star baseball player. A 14-year-old from Lexington, Texas, and a member of the Deanville PONY League, Miller pitches, plays solid defense as a first baseman, and puts balls in the gaps at the plate. Miller plays the game so well that the subtle transfer of his glove back and forth between his hands while pitching can go unnoticed even to the most observant baseball fan. Miller’s pitching bears a striking resemblance to former Major League Baseball pitcher, Jim Abbott.
Because he had no right hand, Abbott would rest his glove on the end of his right forearm, pitch the ball with his left hand, then transfer his glove to his left hand in order to field the ball. Miller, who has only three fingers on his right hand, performs the same process when pitching.
Miller was born with a birth defect of only three fingers on his right hand and had to have his right leg amputated before he was one year old. Despite these challenges, Miller has not stopped playing the sports that he loves. In addition to playing baseball for 11 years, Miller has played football, basketball, and golf, and he also plans to play on his high school tennis team.
Just as Abbott proved to be an inspiration, Miller also has inspired those around him. Miller’s mother described Myles as her hero. “He’s proved to me that there is nothing that he can’t do if he sets his mind to it. Everyone in our family looks up to him and he is an inspiration to everybody around him.” When asked about the countless children and adults that look up to him, Miller also had some advice for them. “No matter what is wrong, always follow your dreams and keep your head up. If you set your mind to something and work for it then you can do whatever you want.”
Miller has proved to be a true inspiration to his teammates, his family, and PONY Baseball. Miller embodies the spirit and fun of the game of baseball, and he has proved to be the true epitome of the product of hard work and perseverance.
