The bullpen used to be a place where failed starters would go to kickstart their career or provide a path for a bounce-back. Mariano Rivera started 10 games for the Yankees in his rookie season. John Smoltz and Derek Lowe had strong seasons as starting pitchers before late-career moves to the bullpen. Edwin Diaz was a starting pitching prospect for three years in the Mariners’ organization before they moved him to the bullpen in Double-A in 2016, and Mason Miller was a talented but oft-injured starting pitcher until the Athletics made him a full-time reliever in 2024.

However, the Miller move is a path that’s becoming more common for young starting pitchers, like Hunter Brown, Garrett Crochet, or Joey Cantillo.

So far, Miller has stayed in the bullpen, unlike the three names I just allud

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