Yuba City boasts second catcher drafted by MLB

It turns out that Max Stassi wasn't the only catcher in Yuba City to catch the eye of Major League Baseball scouts this season.

One day after the Yuba City High standout was selected in the fourth round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft by the Oakland Athletics, River Valley High senior Cody Miller got the call every Little Leaguer dreams of as well, going to the Florida Marlins in the 47th round — 1,418 overall — on Thursday.

"We didn't really know he was being watched," River Valley coach Todd Artist said. "I knew that the Marlins' staff was at a couple games, but I didn't know they were looking at Cody."

Although he missed a handful of games at the beginning of the season with a dislocated hip, Miller made up for lost time and shined both with the bat and behind the dish this spring for the Falcons.

The three-year starter batted .368 with nine doubles and two home runs while earning Tri-County Conference first-team honors and a selection into Saturday's 38th annual Optimist All-Star game at American River College.

And while he slugged a team-high .588, Miller also showed surprising speed for a catcher and was a perfect five-for-five in steals attempts to catch the eye of Florida's scouts who were no doubt in town to check out the other catcher in Yuba City.

But despite his success on the diamond, the call from the Marlins was a shock.

"One of their scouts called me before it happened and said they were going to take me in the 47th round," said Miller, who watched his name come up during an online live broadcast. "I didn't think it was going to happen, so I was really surprised."

Miller said that his plans for the upcoming season still remain the same.

"I'm planning on going to Solano (Community College in Fairfield) and playing there this season," said Miller, the Appeal-Democrat's All-Area first-team pick at catcher last season. "I just like the area and I didn't really talk to any other schools."

The Marlins will keep tabs on Miller while he plays at Solano.

"He's one of those guys I had for four years and I wish I had 15 players like him," Artist said. "He's a great kid and I'm going to miss him."