San Diego Padres star closer Mason Miller didn’t have baseball on his mind as he accompanied his wife, Jordan, during her delivery of their son on Tuesday.
Miller was not with the team that day for Game 3 of the Friars’ National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif. With the Padres facing elimination, their best reliever wasn’t around to help, but at least one midwife offered to put on the game in the delivery room.
Miller, however, respectfully declined the thoughtful gesture.
“They asked, but I can’t do that. Adrenaline and everything was going pretty hard,” Miller said, via Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune.
As it turned out, Michael King got the job done in place of Miller. King recorded the save as the Padres avoided a sweep with a 4-3 victory in Game 3.
Miller returned for Game 4 on Wednesday as a first-time father, but San Diego couldn’t recreate its Game 3 magic, falling to the Brewers, 3-1, and exiting the playoffs.
The two-time All-Star Miller pitched one inning and allowed zero runs and two hits with a walk and a strikeout.
It’s unfortunate for Miller and the Padres to see their season come to an end, but at least he’ll have more time to spend with his family.
