The right-hander threw 5.1 innings for the M's in his season debut on Wednesday night.
The Seattle Mariners lost the game - and catcher Cal Raleigh - in Wednesday night's 4-3 loss against the Houston Astros.
But while the overarching story of the game was bad, it wasn't all bad.
The Mariners saw right-handed starting pitcher Bryce Miller make his season debut after he missed nearly all of spring training and the first six weeks of the season with an oblique issue.
Hitting 99 mph at some points, Miller was excellent through 5.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits. He walked only one and struck out three. In addition to his increased velocity, he threw his slider and splitter effectively, and he managed his pitch count which allowed him to get into the sixth inning. He threw just 81 pitches in total.
If not for a more than 10 minute umpire delay that broke his rhythm in the bottom of the sixth, he may have been able to finish the inning and finish the full six frames.
We spoke with ESPN MLB Insider Buster Olney on the most recent edition of the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast for his take on what we saw from Miller.
"That was really hopeful with his performance. I mean, you think, and I'm sure you saw so many people posting on social media how last year it was 94.5 miles per hour, and to see him at 99, that was encouraging.
Now, the Mariners saw that at the beginning of spring training. Bryce Miller put on weight during the offseason. He focused on his velocity, and it's paying off in a big way. He has the weapons, and now it's a question of honing it as you move forward.
But certainly, what they saw out of Bryce Miller, you've got to believe they're feeling like he could be a real weapon for them this summer."
And the M's are going to need him to be a weapon, especially in the wake of Luis Castillo's struggles. Entering Thursday with a 6.57 ERA, the M's are set to begin piggybacking Castillo and Miller next week. How long that lasts is anyone's guess, but if Miller keeps pitching like he did on Wednesday, he may force the Mariners hand into giving him the permanent rotation spot and figuring out an alternative with Castillo.
You can listen to the 'Refuse to Lose Territory' podcast here, or you can watch it on YouTube.