The Roadrunner’s junior outfielder AJ Miller is on track to break the program’s single season home run record that was set by Martin Medina back in 2010. There are 13 games left of the season for Miller to accomplish history. Miller has slugged nine home runs so far this season and ranked fourth in the Big West. 

Their offense has been their strongest part of this season. As a team they have a combined 27 home runs this season, the third highest in CSU Bakersfield history. The current record still stands at 42 homeruns which came from the program’s second season as a program in 2011. A huge part of that offense has been from Miller.

Miller has made an immediate impact since joining the Roadrunners lineup during the 2022 season, he is leading the team in every offensive category. He leads the team in doubles, hits, slugging percentage and on- base percentage and is currently ranked sixth in the Big West.  

Miller has been very calm at the plate, and he has seen the ball great so far this season. He describes his mental approach when he comes up to the plate during a game. 

“Just to try to compete, compete as much as I can and find ways to get things done. Put together a good at bats for my team and help us win, committing to that has led to success.”  

Miller is a transfer from the University of Oregon where he spent his first two seasons as a Duck. He entered the portal to be recruited and was immediately drawn to Coach Beard and how he handles the program. Beard mentioned that Miller did strike his interest during recruitment based on Miller’s mentality at such an early age. 

“AJ was a mature young man, he knew what he wanted. I feel like he was different than the other guys in the portal that we have talked to from the standpoint of he wanted the things that we can offer. He was not worried about the facilities or playing in a huge college atmosphere,” said Beard. 

Miller was also drawn to the chemistry that the coaches and staff brought during recruitment. Miller found that aspect was important for him to make the decision to be a Roadrunner, he now experiences it to this day out on the field.  

“When I first got in touch with the coaches, the main thing I felt is that they cared a bunch. I felt that through our conversations and ever since coming here they have continued to show it every day. Their level of care for the program is really what I wanted and everything I could have imagined since coming here, it has been great,” said Miller. 

The Roadrunners are now 9-9 in the Big West conference with 12 conference games left, after losing three series in a row, they are still only two games out of tying for second place. 

“We got a lot of heart, on paper it may not jump off the board as a crazy super talented team, but we compete and I think that’s our main tool,” said Miller.