Baseball: UCI’s Tracey, Miller sign

Former UC Irvine pitcher Sean Tracey and catcher Chris Miller

almost had the chance to play against each other after signing with their

respective Major League Baseball organizations.

Tracey, a right-hander who was selected in the eighth round, 240th

overall by the Chicago White Sox June 4, was originally scheduled to play

for the Phoenix White Sox in the Arizona League, where Miller is playing.

Miller signed with the Chicago Cubs’ short-season A squad, the Mesa

Cubs, who will face the Phoenix White Sox Saturday.

Tracey, however, was transferred from Phoenix to Bristol, Va. in the

Appalachian League on Tuesday. He started 17 games for the Anteaters this

past season and led the team in strikeouts (96) and innings pitched (106

2/3). He was 8-7 with a 4.44 ERA, averaging 8.1 strikeouts per nine

innings.

Miller, who was selected by the Cubs in the 11th round, 333rd overall,

earned second-team All-Big West Conference laurels and hit a school

single-season-record 12 home runs.

-- by Steve Virgen