BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- Following three standout seasons in the outfield for WKU Baseball, junior Anderson Miller was selected by the Kansas City Royals with the 98th overall pick during Tuesday's third round of the 2015 Major League Baseball Draft.
Miller, a Lexington, Ky. native, becomes WKU's 17th MLB Draft selection since 2009 and the 52nd major league draftee in the program's 96-year history. As the No. 98 overall pick, Miller is the third-highest MLB Draft selection in WKU history. Former outfielder Kes Carter was chosen as the 56th overall pick in the first round by Tampa Bay in 2011 while former third baseman Wade Gaynor was selected 89th overall by Detroit in the third round of the 2009 draft.
Miller is the ninth WKU player to join the Royals organization, joining Ian Tompkins (2014), Andrew Edwards (2013), Brian Edelen (2011), Matt Ridings (2010), Colby Beach (2008), Doug Piatt (1988), Gerald Ingram (1988) and Rob Tomberlin (1985).
When he signs with the Royals, Miller will become the 104th Hilltopper to sign a professional baseball contract and the 21st to do so since 2008. His signing will also give WKU at least one professional signee in 35 of the past 36 seasons.
Miller was named First Team All-Conference USA in 2015 after ranking among the league's regular-season leaders in home runs (12 -- 3rd), runs scored (47 -- 3rd), walks (41 -- 4th), triples (3 -- 5th), slugging percentage (.560 -- 5th), total bases (108 -- 6th) and on-base percentage (.419 -- 9th).
The left-handed bat of Miller provided two game-winning homers in the seventh innings against Evansville and FIU, along with a game-tying two-run homer in the ninth inning at Kentucky to spark a rally where WKU eventually in extra innings. Miller collected 57 hits and drove in 35 RBI from his leadoff position in the lineup, ending the season with a .295 average at the plate. He started 50 games for the Hilltoppers and reached base safely in all but three games, which included two different on-base streaks of 20 or more games. Miller was one of two Conference USA hitters to earn the league's Hitter of the Week award twice in 2015.
Miller, who was also a 2014 All-Sun Belt Conference selection, finishes his career on The Hill with 139 hits and a .302 average in 127 career games. His eight-career triples are tied for 10th in WKU history and he added 23 doubles and smacked 15 homers. Miller exits with a .484 slugging percentage, a .395 on-base percentage and a .993 fielding percentage.
Miller joins former WKU players Ian Tompkins, Andrew Edwards, Phil Wetherell, Terrence Dayleg and Wade Gaynor as active Hilltoppers in the professional ranks.
Highest WKU selections in MLB Draft
Kes Carter -- 56th overall selection by Tampa Bay in 2011 (1st round)
Wade Gaynor -- 89th overall selection by Detroit in 2009 (3rd round)
Anderson Miller -- 98th overall selection by Kansas City in 2015 (3rd round)
Paul Jackson -- 107th overall selection by Cincinnati in 1989 (4th round)
Greg Raymer -- 109th overall selection by San Diego in 1982 (5th round)
Steve Stemle -- 138th overall selection by St. Louis in 1998 (5th round)
Don Durham -- 159th overall selection by St. Louis in 1970 (7th round)
Jordan Newton -- 172nd overall selection by Detroit in 2006 (6th round)
Chris Turner -- 194th overall selection by California Angels in 1991 (7th round)
