Ports' Milburn mows 'em down in one-hitter
In spring 2016, Matt Milburn expected to be pursuing his master's degree. On Thursday, he ended up with a Maddux.The right-handed Oakland prospect did not allow a runner until Beau Branton doubled with two outs in the sixth inning and was perfect the rest of the way as Class A
In spring 2016, Matt Milburn expected to be pursuing his master's degree. On Thursday, he ended up with a Maddux.
The right-handed Oakland prospect did not allow a runner until Beau Branton doubled with two outs in the sixth inning and was perfect the rest of the way as Class A Advanced Stockton blanked Modesto, 2-0, at Banner Island Ballpark.
Gameday box score
Milburn needed just 96 pitches for his complete-game shutout. Such outings in which a pitcher hurls less than 100 pitches are referred to as a "Maddux," an homage to the pitch-efficient Hall of Fame right-hander from the Braves and Cubs.
The 29th-round pick in 2016 remembered pitching a better game only once in his life.
"In high school, I did pitch a perfect game," Milburn said. "I was just trying to fill [up the strike zone] the first couple of times through the lineup. In the fifth, I realized I was doing a good job, and me and [catcher Santiago Chávez], we were on the same page all day."
The Wofford College alum is not known to be overpowering but has outstanding command, averaging about 1.5 walks per nine innings. He throws a sinking fastball that ranges 88 to 91 mph as well as a cutter in the mid-to-upper 80s.
Milburn (8-5) acknowledged that with a fastball that has less heat than most, you need to be more assertive on the mound.
"You definitely have to be in attack mode," he said. "I want to throw as many innings as possible, and when you throw strikes, that normally leads to good things."
He also throws a slider and has been emphasizing his changeup more at the behest of the organization.
"Gil Patterson, our pitching coordinator, told me I need to throw a changeup in order to be a starting pitcher," Milburn said. "It's definitely worked out this year, and I was toying around with a cutter, and that worked out especially with all the lefties in the lineup tonight."
Milburn set down 17 in a row until Branton's double to center field on the first pitch of the at-bat.

That was a mere bump in the road as the Dallas native got Kevin Santa to fly out to end the sixth, and then retired the final nine, five on ground balls. He threw 67 of 96 pitches for strikes.
Stockton got all the support Milburn needed in the third against Darren McCaughan (6-10) on a two-RBI double by Sandber Pimentel
That was enough to boost the 25-year-old, who has walked only 16 batters in 136 innings. With his 3.51 ERA and winning record, his Draft status is has been long forgotten.
"Absolutely, you have to believe that you have to belong," he said. "I'm just trying to go out there, day by day. That's how you've got to take this job, once you're in in that world. It's competitive."
So is academia. Following the senior season at Wofford in which he went 6-5 with a 4.47 ERA, Milburn prepared to pursue his master's degree at Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He wasn't sure pro ball was an option, but the A's selected him with the 862nd overall pick and he decided his academic career could wait.
"Funny thing, I'm still doing that [pursuing the degree]," Milburn said. "In fact, I just registered for classes last week."
Vince Lara-Cinisomo is a contributor to MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincelara.
Nationals prospect King joins MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Here are the 2025 All-Spring Breakout Teams
Fifteen games, several jersey swaps and countless highlights later, the second edition of Spring Breakout has officially concluded – and it lived up to its billing. Of the 16 contests sprinkled across four days, only one game (Dodgers vs. Cubs) was rained out. Coincidentally, the Cubs were one of two
Rox young sluggers aim to bring pop back to Coors Field
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Coors Field may provide the best run-scoring environment in Major League Baseball, but the Rockies haven’t taken advantage of it in recent years. Even without adjusting for Coors, they have fielded offenses worse than the league average the past three seasons, and they scored the fewest runs
Astros brass sees potential in consistently 'underranked' farm system
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The last time the Astros landed in the top 10 of MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings was before the 2019 season. Since those rankings expanded to all 30 teams ahead of the 2020 season -- 11 lists in total -- they’ve never ranked higher than
Complete results and highlights from Spring Breakout
The second edition of MLB Spring Breakout is complete, and there was no shortage of highlights from the future stars of Major League Baseball over the four-day showcase. Here's a complete breakdown of the 16-game exhibition:
Southpaw Spring Breakout: White Sox future on display with Schultz, Smith
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- If all goes as planned for the White Sox, left-handers Hagen Smith and Noah Schultz won’t spend much time following each other to the mound in a single game. Schultz, the No. 1 White Sox prospect and No. 16 overall, per MLB Pipeline, and Smith, who is
In first pro game, Rainer offers pop, promise to Tigers fans
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Bryce Rainer’s pro career consisted of workouts and batting practice until Sunday.
'Me and Brady on the dirt again': House, King reunite at Spring Breakout
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- The 2025 Spring Breakout was a flashback for Brady House and Seaver King. Over 10 years ago, the infielders were travel ball teammates in Georgia who shared the dream of making it to the Major Leagues. Now, they are top prospects in the same organization,
Lambert -- 'an adrenaline guy' -- hoping to be next Mets bullpen gem
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Ryan Lambert loves throwing hard. He relishes the idea of getting to two strikes and blowing hitters away. “Get me in a game,” Lambert said, “cool things will happen.”
Stewart embraces Spring Breakout: 'What's not to love?'
PHOENIX -- Sal Stewart was one fired-up Reds prospect. On Sunday in the first inning during the organization's 9-7 Spring Breakout win over Brewers prospects, Stewart lifted a 2-2 pitch that sailed over the center fielder's head to the wall. Already not known as a speedster, he stumbled running between
Prospect Peña quietly drawing raves in Brewers' farm system
PHOENIX – Jesús Made was at the top of the Brewers’ lineup for Sunday’s 9-7 loss to the Reds in the finale of MLB’s four-day Spring Breakout, a fitting perch when you consider that the 17-year-old infielder is under a bright spotlight as MLB Pipeline’s No. 55 prospect. Made could
Brecht -- in 1st outing since '24 Draft -- wows at Spring Breakout
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Sunday's Spring Breakout showcase was the perfect unveiling for Rockies No. 5 prospect Brody Brecht. A right-handed pitcher from the University of Iowa whom the Rockies selected 38th overall last summer, Brecht had a nice collegiate resume, an interesting backstory as a former wide receiver for the
Braves prospects show promise in Spring Breakout
NORTH PORT, Fla. -- As Terry Pendleton prepared to serve as the manager of the Braves prospect team that played the Tigers prospect team in a Spring Breakout game on Sunday afternoon, he said fans should be patient with John Gil and Luis Guanipa, a pair of teenagers who have
Yanks' Lagrange flashes triple-digit heat in Spring Breakout
SARASOTA, Fla. -- There was an audible “Ooh” from the crowd at Ed Smith Stadium, and Carlos Lagrange quickly glanced beyond the right-field wall, checking the velocity of the pitch he’d just thrown in Saturday’s 5-4 Spring Breakout loss to the Orioles. It had registered in the triple digits, and
Bradfield dedicates Spring Breakout performance to late friend
SARASOTA, Fla. -- It was about more than playing in the national spotlight. More than the dinner bet placed with an old college teammate earlier in the month. More than a game. As Enrique Bradfield Jr. slid home to score a run during the first inning of Saturday night’s Spring
'Hungry' Alcántara hoping to pounce on big league prey in '25
MESA, Ariz. -- The thing about jaguars is, you don’t want to see one when it’s hungry. So when Cubs legend Sammy Sosa spoke to the organization’s No. 6 prospect per MLB Pipeline -- and the No. 89 prospect overall -- the former slugger gave him some apt advice. “His
Rainiers broadcaster Pay talks historic role on MiLB podcast
Check out the latest episodes of The Show Before the Show, MiLB.com's official podcast. A segment rundown is listed below, in case you want to skip to a particular section. Like the podcast? Subscribe, rate and review on Apple Podcasts. The podcast is also available via Spotify, Megaphone and other
Prospect Santos 'electric' in Spring Breakout start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Malcolm Moore knew Winston Santos was locked in before he even threw a pitch. In the second annual Spring Breakout game, Santos -- the Rangers’ No. 5 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- was throwing to Moore, the Rangers’ No. 4 prospect and highest-ranked catcher. The battery more
Switch-pitcher Cijntje deals from both sides in Spring Breakout
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Jurrangelo Cijntje knew who’d be waiting for him in the batter’s box when he emerged from the visiting bullpen on Friday evening. The Mariners’ switch-pitcher had seen Guardians infielder Travis Bazzana recently at a card-signing event, to which they each joked, “I’m going to see you soon,”
Fans in this Minor League town are hungry for ... the Spicy Meatballs?!?
Benjamin Hill travels the nation collecting stories about what makes Minor League Baseball unique. This excerpt from his newsletter is a mere taste of the smorgasbord of delights he offers every week. Read the full newsletter here, and subscribe to his newsletter here.
Chandler adds mix to upper-90s heat in stellar Spring Breakout start
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- In the inaugural Spring Breakout game a year ago, as he was coming out to pitch the ninth inning, Bubba Chandler slammed a Red Bull and declared “let’s do this” before pumping upper-90s heat.