Cohen Miller has experienced more of the international baseball world in 16 years on this planet than many do in their entire careers.
Born in Calgary, the young athlete moved with his family to Dubai, back to Calgary, back to Dubai and back to Calgary.
In between, he has traveled to numerous places in Canada, the United States, Qatar, Thailand, Singapore, Kuwait and Philippines, among others.
When Miller came back to Calgary in September 2023, he enrolled at Webber Academy in hopes of taking his game to the next level.
Since then, he has had the opportunity to play for Team Canada at the Prep Baseball Futures Games in Georgia, represent Alberta at the Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray and headed to the Blue Jays Academy Canadian Futures Showcase in Toronto.
The 5-foot-11, 163-pound two-way star hasn’t committed to a post-secondary institution yet, but if all goes according to plan, he says it’s about athletics and academics, as he’s hoping to focus on biomechanics or kinesiology.
Miller joined us earlier this season for Episode #300 of Alberta Dugout Stories: The Podcast, with his answers to our questions helping us frame up the latest 1 Thru 9.
1. What did it mean to you to represent your home province at the Baseball Canada Cup in Fort McMurray?
Playing for Team Alberta at Canada Cup was a good opportunity. Not just for playing in front of people and representing Alberta, but just meeting people from around Alberta that are also striving for the same goals that I do and my teammates do. It’s a cool experience to be selected for that.
2. Did you go in with a specific mindset or goals you wanted to accomplish?
Just trusting in my ability and not letting the nerves get too high. The mental side of the game, just trying to get better at that. You can always work on that. I feel like that’s a struggle that a lot of people have and somewhat always have. Just working on that instead of just working on physical stuff is my main focus.
3. Then it was off to the Canadian Futures Showcase. How do you feel you did in that event?
I felt like I did good. I put up good at-bats. I pretty much swung at every single pitch I saw. I saw maybe like ten pitches in my five at-bats. I did good with getting the bat on the ball, getting two hits and a double. Pitched pretty good. I felt like it was a good first showcase.
4. How much of an event like that is trying to showcase yourself and how much of it is being a sponge so you can maybe pick up a few things from some of the best players in the country?
I just try to observe things that players are doing around me that maybe I’m not doing and learning from my mistakes what I can do to make it better. How can you learn to consistently not make the same mistake. Just seeing what other people are doing around me and trying to adapt to doing that also.
5. You’ve had quite the journey in the game, seeing it from a bunch of different vantage points. What’s been your main takeaway as you’ve experienced baseball in different countries?
It’s cool to be able to see how people manage to pick up the sport from around the world. Just knowing that you can play baseball anywhere there’s a field and you have equipment.
6. Heading into the offseason, is there anything you’re wanting to work on or change so that you’re even better heading into 2025?
Just maintaining explosiveness and adding on weight. Personally, I’m trying to get around 185, maybe towards 190 pounds, while improving speed and explosiveness. Maintaining and knowing that I need to stay in my approach hitting-wise and not just going exit velo-crazy in the offseason and knowing that I actually have to have game-intent during my reps.
7. As you look ahead to a possible commitment, what are you looking for out of a school?
Just going to a good academic school as well as a good athletic school is a top priority. Not just because baseball won’t be there forever so you want to get an education. But the fact that, from my understanding, the higher academic school you go, the harder it is for transfer portal guys out of JUCO to come to. It gives you more chance for playing opportunities. A good academic school and probably in a warmer climate, like maybe the west coast.
8. For those young kids just starting out on their journeys and wanting to get to where you’re at now, what’s your go-to piece of advice or words of wisdom for them?
Just really know if you actually want it or not. If you’re going to prioritize distractions and other things that I feel a lot of people can have take over their athletic life if they choose to. Just know that you’re going to have to sacrifice some things if you want to be good at one or the other.
9. What does the game of baseball mean to you?
It’s a good opportunity to showcase who you are athletic and mentally. Again, it’s a sport of failure, but I think it’s a good showcase of all-around who you are, if you can maintain being calm in stressful situations and just show all parts of you as an athlete.
