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Aaron Miles
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Aaron Wade Miles (born December 15, 1976) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. He played nine seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 2003 to 2011 for the Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He also managed the Pittsburg Diamonds of the Pacific Association. In 2024, Miles was named infield and third base coach of the newly formed Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League.[1] On July 21, 2024, the Ballers fired manager Micah Franklin and named Miles interim manager.[2]

Key Information

Professional career

[edit]

Houston Astros

[edit]

Miles was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft. He played in the Astros minor league system through 2000, making it as high as Class-A+ with the Kissimmee Cobras in 2000, where he hit .292 in 75 games. He was a member of the Midwest League All-Star team in 1999.

Chicago White Sox

[edit]

He was selected by the Chicago White Sox in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft in 2000. He played with the Double-A Birmingham Barons in 2001-2002. In 2002, he was the Most Valuable Player of the Double-A Southern League while hitting .322 for the Barons. He was promoted to Triple-A with the Charlotte Knights in 2003 and was the International League Rookie of the Year. He made his Major League debut on September 11, 2003, against the Minnesota Twins as a pinch hitter and recorded his first hit on September 18, also against Minnesota. In eight games with the White Sox, he had four hits (including three doubles) in 12 at-bats.

Colorado Rockies

[edit]

Miles was traded to the Colorado Rockies on December 2, 2003, for Juan Uribe. He appeared in 134 games with the Rockies and finished fourth in the voting for the 2004 National League Rookie of the Year, while hitting .293 in 134 games.

St. Louis Cardinals

[edit]

Miles was traded by the Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals on December 7, 2005 (with Larry Bigbie) for Ray King.

He won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2006.

On August 4, Miles threw a perfect 8th inning in a 12–1 loss to the Washington Nationals. Of Miles' nine pitches, six were for strikes. It was the first time he had pitched since he was 14 years old. Miles pitched during the game when Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa asked his pitching coach, Dave Duncan, "Who's our shortest reliever?" The tongue-in-cheek answer was Miles, at 5' 8". His pitching career took a turn for the worse later that season. On September 20, he pitched the 9th inning against the Houston Astros and was touched for three hits, including a two-run home run by J. R. Towles. It was Towles' first career major league home run. On June 13, 2008, Miles would make his third pitching appearance, this time against the Philadelphia Phillies. With the Phillies leading, 20–2, Miles came in to finish off the game with a perfect 9th inning while striking out Jimmy Rollins.

On August 31, a foul ball hit by Miles struck teammate Juan Encarnación in the face while he was in the on-deck circle, and effectively ended Encarnación's career. Encarnación suffered multiple fractures to his left eye socket and an injury to his left eye and missed the remainder of the 2007 season. The injury was regarded by the Cardinals' head team physician, Dr. George Paletta, to be the worst injury he'd ever seen to the face on a baseball player. Paletta said the eye socket was essentially crushed on impact. Paletta also said the eyeball had not been ruptured.[3]

Miles re-signed with the Cardinals for a one-year deal on January 4, 2008, after a non-tender and short free-agency status in December 2007.[4]

On July 20, 2008, Miles got his first walk-off hit, a one-out grand slam to beat the San Diego Padres, 9–5.

Chicago Cubs

[edit]

On December 31, 2008, Miles signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Cubs.[5] He was the primary backup infielder to second baseman Mike Fontenot, shortstop Ryan Theriot and third baseman Aramis Ramírez, after losing the starting job at second to Fontenot during Spring Training.

Oakland/Cincinnati/St. Louis

[edit]

On December 3, 2009, Miles was traded along with Jake Fox to the Oakland Athletics for Jeff Gray and two minor league prospects. On February 1, 2010, he was again traded along with a player to be named later to the Cincinnati Reds for Willy Taveras and Adam Rosales. He was released on April 14, after being designated for assignment at the end of spring training.

On April 27, 2010, Miles signed a minor league deal to return to the Cardinals.[6] After a brief AAA stop, he rejoined the major league roster.

Los Angeles Dodgers

[edit]
Aaron Miles with the Dodgers, April 2011

On February 7, 2011, Miles signed a minor league deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers with an invitation to spring training. He made the opening day roster. He had his first home run as a Dodger and first in over 530 at-bats [over two years] vs Minnesota Twins starter Brian Duensing at Target Field on June 28, 2011. Miles played in 136 games with the Dodgers, the most of his career, primarily due to injuries to Juan Uribe and Casey Blake. He hit .275 with 17 doubles. After not signing with any team for 2012, he re-signed with the Dodgers on a minor league contract on May 11. He played in 18 games with the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes, hitting .235.

Miles announced his retirement on June 13, 2012.[7]

Coaching career

[edit]

Pittsburg Mettle/Diamonds

[edit]

For the 2014 season, he was hired as the bench coach for the new Pittsburg Mettle franchise of the Pacific Association. In 2015, Miles became manager of the renamed Diamonds.[8] In his first season, the Diamonds saw a 16 game win improvement, earning him Manager of the Year honors.[9] Over four seasons, Miles held a 146–167 record.

Dublin Leprechauns

[edit]

In 2023, Miles was to appear as manager for the Dublin Leprechauns inaugural season of the Pecos League, but only assisted in a few games instead.[10]

Oakland Ballers

[edit]

In 2024, Miles was named infield and third base coach of the newly formed Oakland Ballers of the Pioneer League.[1] On July 21, 2024, the Ballers fired manager Micah Franklin and named Miles interim manager.[2] In 2025 Miles led the Oakland Ballers to their first Pioneer league championship title over the Idaho Falls Chukars in just the franchise’s second season of operation.

Managerial record

[edit]

As of September 22, 2025

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Games Won Lost Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
PIT 2015 77 38 39 .494 3rd – – – –
PIT 2016 78 36 42 .462 3rd – – – –
PIT 2017 78 36 42 .462 t-2nd – – – –
PIT 2018 80 36 44 .450 4th 0 1 .000 Lost semifinal (Sonoma)
PIT total 313 146 167 .466 0 1 .000
OAK 2024 42 29 13 .690 2nd[a] 1 2 .333 Lost semifinals (Yolo)
OAK 2025 96 73 23 .760 1st 5 3 .625 Won semifinals (Ogden) 2–1
Won finals (Idaho) 3–2
OAK total 138 102 36 .739 6 5 .545
Total [11] 451 248 203 .550 6 6 .500
  1. ^ Miles replaced Micah Franklin with 42 regular season games remaining

Personal life

[edit]

He is a graduate of Antioch High School, in Antioch, California. He lives in Brentwood, California, with his wife Lauren, and four children.

In spring training of 2000, several of his teammates from the Houston Astros organization were in their hotel when two gunmen burst into their room. Miles was in the next room and the gunmen took him hostage. The police arrived before the gunmen were able to take him to their getaway car, but one gunman fled the scene. The other forced Miles back into his room where he ended up wrestling the gunman to the ground. The police entered the room and shot the gunman while Miles held him to the floor. The gunman survived his wounds, and his accomplice was later captured.[12]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Aaron Miles

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Aaron Wade Miles (born December 15, 1976) is an American former professional baseball and current manager in independent leagues. He played nine seasons in (MLB) as a switch-hitting , , and , appearing in 932 games with a career of .281, 19 home runs, and 229 runs batted in. Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 1995 MLB Draft out of in , Miles made his MLB debut with the in 2003 before spending time with the Colorado Rockies (2004–2005), St. Louis Cardinals (2006–2008, 2010), (2009), and (2011). One of Miles' most notable achievements came during his tenure with the Cardinals, where he contributed as a utility on the championship team, helping secure the franchise's tenth title. Known for his consistent contact hitting and defensive versatility, Miles batted .288 over 481 games with and provided steady play across multiple positions during his MLB career. Following his retirement from playing after the 2011 season, Miles transitioned into and roles in the minors and independent baseball. In 2015, he became part-owner and manager of the Pittsburg Diamonds of the Pacific Association of Clubs, leveraging his 20-plus years of professional experience. By 2024, Miles had taken the helm of the in the Pioneer Baseball League, guiding the expansion team to a league championship in their second season in 2025 and earning Pioneer League Manager of the Year honors for his leadership. Under his direction, the Ballers also experimented with innovative strategies, including ceding in-game decisions to during a 2025 matchup—the first such instance in . Hailing from , Miles is recognized as the most accomplished MLB alumnus from his hometown and was inducted into the Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame in 2014.

Early life

Family background

Aaron Miles was born on December 15, 1976, in . He grew up in nearby , where he spent his formative years in a close-knit environment. Miles' , Herb Miles, was a clinical laboratory scientist at Sutter Delta Memorial Hospital and had himself been an athlete, playing football at during his youth. His mother, Fran Miles, older sister, Tami, and brother Kevin were also part of the supportive household. Herb's athletic background fostered a tradition of sports enthusiasm, with Miles recalling that his initial passion for ignited through simple games of catch with his . The demonstrated their commitment by installing a large at home, complete with lights for nighttime practice, allowing Miles to hone his skills consistently. From an early age, Miles gained exposure to organized through local Little League programs in Antioch, starting with the Antioch Fireballs team under coach Butch Felix. This community involvement, bolstered by familial encouragement, laid the groundwork for his development as a player before he entered high school.

High school and draft

Miles attended in , where he played both and football. As a multi-sport athlete, he demonstrated strong athletic ability from an early age, supported by his family who encouraged his development in competitive sports. In , Miles excelled as a and , forming a highly regarded double-play combination with shortstop Brian Oliver that was considered one of the nation's best during his time at Antioch. Known for his switch-hitting and hard-nosed play style, he earned local recognition as one of the top players in school history. His senior year culminated in being named the MVP of the North-South , highlighting his standout performance among California's top high school talents. Following his graduation from in 1995, Miles was selected by the Houston Astros in the 19th round (529th overall) of the 1995 June Amateur Draft. He chose to sign with the Astros, turning down a to the , marking his entry into professional .

Playing career

Minor leagues

Following his selection by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the out of , Aaron Miles signed with the organization and began his professional career in the -level Gulf Coast League (GCL) that summer. In 47 games for the GCL Astros, he batted .257 with 44 hits in 171 at-bats. The next year, Miles returned to the GCL for another assignment, appearing in 55 games and improving his to .294 with 63 hits in 214 at-bats, demonstrating early contact-oriented hitting skills. Miles advanced to full-season Class A in 1997 with the in the , where he played 97 games and hit .262. He remained at that level in 1998, again with , but his average dipped to .244 over 108 games. By 1999, assigned to the Michigan Battle Cats (still , Class A), Miles broke out offensively, batting .317 with 149 hits in 470 at-bats across 112 games—one of his first seasons surpassing .300. In 2000, he moved up to with the Kissimmee Cobras in the , posting a .292 average in 75 games before the season was shortened. After the 2000 season, Miles was selected by the from the Astros in the phase of the on December 11, 2000, joining their organization. He spent 2001 at Double-A with the of the Southern League, batting .259 in 84 games. Miles had a strong follow-up in 2002, returning to Birmingham for a full season and hitting .322 with 171 hits in 531 at-bats over 138 games, again batting over .300 while establishing himself as a reliable . Promoted to Triple-A in 2003 with the of the , he batted .304 in 133 games, recording 166 hits in 546 at-bats, earning Rookie of the Year honors and continuing his consistent performance across six seasons. Throughout his tenure from 1995 to 2003, Miles developed as a versatile , primarily at second base and , with occasional appearances at third base, showcasing strong defensive fundamentals and speed on the bases. His progression through the Astros' system for six seasons before the Rule 5 selection, followed by three years in the White Sox affiliates, highlighted steady improvement in plate discipline and adaptability across levels.

Major League Baseball

Aaron Miles made his Major League Baseball debut on September 11, 2003, with the Chicago White Sox, entering as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins before playing the eighth inning at second base. Over the course of his nine-season MLB career from 2003 to 2011, Miles appeared in 932 games, compiling a .281 batting average with 793 hits, 19 home runs, and 229 RBIs. His offensive profile emphasized contact hitting, evidenced by a career strikeout rate of just 10.4% across 2,827 plate appearances, while he also contributed 30 stolen bases, demonstrating moderate speed on the basepaths. Primarily serving as a utility infielder, Miles showcased defensive versatility across multiple positions, logging the majority of his innings at second base (625 games), along with significant time at (122 games) and third base (61 games). This adaptability allowed him to fill various roles in the infield, drawing from his extensive preparation where he honed skills at multiple positions. His sure-handed defense resulted in a career fielding of .978, making him a reliable option for teams needing depth. One of Miles' key achievements came in 2006, when he was part of the St. Louis Cardinals' championship team, appearing in 2 games during the series against the Detroit Tigers. In those appearances, he recorded 1 hit in 6 at-bats while playing second base flawlessly.

Chicago White Sox

Miles joined the Chicago White Sox organization after being selected from the Houston Astros in the minor league phase of the on December 11, 2000. He progressed through the White Sox minor league affiliates, playing for the Double-A Birmingham Barons in 2001 and 2002, where he posted a combined .298 over 222 games, and the Triple-A in 2003, batting .304 in 133 games. Miles earned a late-season call-up to the majors and made his MLB debut on , 2003, as a going 0-for-1 before entering at second base defensively in a game against the at . In his brief 2003 stint with Chicago, Miles appeared in 8 games primarily as a utility off the bench, capable of playing second base, , and third base. He recorded 4 hits in 12 at-bats for a .333 , with 2 RBI and no home runs, providing depth during the White Sox's push for the playoffs, though the team finished second in the AL Central. His switch-hitting versatility and solid contact skills were evident in this limited role, aligning with his overall patient, line-drive approach at the plate developed in the minors. Following the 2003 season, Miles was traded to the Rockies on December 2, 2003, in exchange for Juan . This transaction marked the end of his tenure with the White Sox organization after three seasons and a brief major league taste.

Colorado Rockies

Aaron Miles was acquired by the Rockies in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on December 2, 2003, in exchange for infielder Juan . He transitioned from a limited utility role with the White Sox to becoming the Rockies' primary in his first full major league season. In , Miles established himself as an everyday player, appearing in 134 games and starting 128 at second base while batting .293 with 75 runs scored and 47 RBI. His performance earned him fourth place in National League Rookie of the Year voting, highlighting his contributions to the team as a reliable and solid defender in the infield. Notably, Miles became the first switch-hitter in Rockies history to record home runs from both sides of the plate during the season. Miles' role shifted slightly in 2005, where injuries and roster adjustments limited him to 99 games, including 79 at second base with 69 starts, while he hit .281 with 37 runs and 28 RBI. The Rockies finished the year with an 83-79 record but did not qualify for the playoffs during Miles' tenure. On December 7, 2005, the Rockies traded Miles along with to the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for Ray King.

St. Louis Cardinals

Aaron Miles joined the St. Louis Cardinals prior to the 2006 season when he was traded from the Colorado Rockies on December 7, 2005, along with outfielder Larry Bigbie, in exchange for relief pitcher Ray King. As a versatile infielder capable of playing second base, shortstop, and third base, Miles quickly earned the starting role at second base for the Cardinals' Opening Day lineup in 2006, beating out competitors during spring training. In his first full season with St. Louis, he appeared in 135 games, batting .263 with 112 hits, two home runs, and 30 RBIs, providing steady contact hitting and defensive support during the Cardinals' surprising run to the National League pennant. Miles contributed to the Cardinals' 2006 championship, their first title in 24 years, by appearing in seven postseason games across the NLDS, NLCS, and , batting .364 (4-for-11) with one walk and one . The Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers in five games to claim the title, marking Miles' only appearance in his career. Following the 2006 championship, Miles remained with the Cardinals through the season, re-signing on a one-year, $1.4 million contract in January after being non-tendered the previous offseason. Over his initial three-year stint (–), he played in 402 games, maintaining a .290 in and a career-high .317 in while splitting time across multiple infield positions and occasionally pinch-hitting. His consistent contact skills and positional flexibility made him a valuable , though the team did not return to the playoffs during this period. After becoming a in December 2008, Miles signed a two-year with the Chicago Cubs, but he returned to the Cardinals in 2010 on a deal signed April 30 following his release from the . Called up from Triple-A Memphis on June 1 after hitting .279 in 16 games, Miles served as a infielder in 79 appearances, batting .281 with 39 hits and nine RBIs to provide depth during a season that saw the Cardinals advance to the postseason. This brief return highlighted his enduring utility value to the organization before he entered free agency again at season's end.

Chicago Cubs

Miles signed a two-year contract with the Chicago Cubs worth $4.9 million on December 31, 2008, positioning him as a versatile utility infielder capable of playing second base, shortstop, and third base. In 2009, Miles appeared in 74 games for the Cubs, primarily serving as a backup at second base while also logging time at shortstop and third base. His season was hampered by injuries, including a right shoulder strain in May that sidelined him briefly and a left elbow strain in late June that placed him on the 15-day disabled list until early August. Despite these setbacks, he recorded a .185 batting average with 17 runs scored, 29 hits—including 7 doubles and 1 triple—5 RBI, and 3 stolen bases over 157 at-bats, reflecting a challenging year at the plate compared to his prior production. On December 3, 2009, the Cubs traded Miles and Jake Fox to the in exchange for pitchers Jeff Gray and Ronny Morla and Matthew Spencer; as part of the deal, Chicago agreed to cover $1 million of Miles' $2.7 million salary for the 2010 season.

Oakland Athletics, Cincinnati Reds, and return to St. Louis

Following his release from the Chicago Cubs in 2009, Aaron Miles was traded to the on December 3, 2009, along with Jake Fox, in exchange for pitcher Jeff Gray, Ronny Morla, and Matt Spencer. This move positioned Miles as a potential utility for Oakland heading into the 2010 season, leveraging his switch-hitting versatility across the infield. However, Miles' tenure with the Athletics was short-lived. On February 1, 2010, Oakland traded him, along with a , to the in exchange for outfielder and infielder Adam Rosales. The Reds viewed Miles as depth for their infield amid injury concerns, but he did not appear in any major league games during his brief time with the organization. designated him for assignment on April 5, 2010, and released him on April 14, 2010. On April 27, 2010, Miles signed a minor league deal with the Cardinals and was quickly added to the major league roster, marking his return to the team where he had previously contributed as a key reserve from 2006 to 2008. Reintegrating into the Cardinals' lineup under manager , Miles provided steady defense and contact hitting as a , appearing in 79 games primarily at second base and . He batted .281 (39-for-139) with five doubles and nine RBI, helping stabilize the infield during a season that saw the Cardinals reach the . This stint underscored Miles' value as a reliable in a rotational role. Miles concluded his playing career after the 2011 season, retiring at age 34 following his time with the .

Los Angeles Dodgers

In February 2011, Aaron Miles signed a minor league contract with the , including an invitation to . He earned a spot on the roster as a utility infielder. During the 2011 season, Miles appeared in 136 games for the Dodgers, primarily at second base and third base, while also serving as a pinch-hitter and defensive replacement. He batted .275 with 125 hits, 17 doubles, and 3 home runs in 454 at-bats, providing steady contact and versatility in the infield amid injuries to other players. His contributions helped stabilize the lineup, though his remained modest at .314. Miles played his final major league game on September 27, 2011, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he recorded an inside-the-park home run in a 9-7 loss during extra innings. Following the season, he briefly returned to the Dodgers organization on a minor league contract in May 2012 but retired on June 13, 2012, to pursue coaching opportunities.

Coaching and managerial career

Pittsburg teams

Following his retirement from professional playing after the 2011 MLB season, Aaron Miles transitioned into coaching with local teams in his hometown of . In 2014, he joined the newly formed Pittsburg Mettle of the independent Pacific Association as bench coach under manager Wayne Franklin, while also appearing as a player in 19 games. The Mettle struggled that inaugural season, finishing with a 22–56 record and last in the four-team league. The franchise was renamed the Pittsburg Diamonds ahead of the 2015 season, at which point Miles became the team's manager and part-owner, marking the start of his primary managerial role in independent . He continued in this capacity through 2018, often serving as a player-manager in the early years by appearing in select games to provide and instruction. During his tenure, Miles emphasized player development for young and talent, drawing on his MLB experience to teach game fundamentals and situational awareness in a competitive independent league environment. Miles' Diamonds teams showed steady competitiveness but did not capture a championship. They qualified for the only once, in 2018, where they lost in the first round. His overall managerial record with was 146–167 over four seasons. The year-by-year results are summarized below:
YearRecordFinishPlayoffs
201538–393rdDid not qualify
201636–423rdDid not qualify
201736–422nd (tie)Did not qualify
201836–444thLost in 1st round

Dublin Leprechauns

In 2023, Miles briefly assisted the inaugural Dublin Leprechauns of the in a few games. The team, based in , finished the season with a 4–45 record, last in the Pacific Division. Miles did not serve in a full managerial or playing capacity.

Oakland Ballers

Aaron Miles joined the as infield and third base coach ahead of their inaugural 2024 season in the Pioneer Baseball League. On July 21, 2024, following the midseason firing of manager Micah Franklin, Miles was promoted to interim manager, a role in which he guided the expansion team through the remainder of their debut campaign. Miles' tenure as manager continued into 2025, when he led the to a dominant 73–23 regular season record, setting a modern-era league mark for wins and finishing 50 games over .500. In the postseason, the team posted a 5–3 record, advancing through the playoffs to claim the Pioneer League with a decisive 3–2 series victory over the , capped by an 8–1 win in Game 5. This triumph marked the ' first title in franchise history and brought glory back to Oakland for the first time since the ' 1989 World Series win. In 2025, Miles was named Pioneer League Manager of the Year. Throughout his time with the , Miles emphasized building strong community connections in Oakland, particularly in the wake of the Athletics' relocation to , by recruiting local talent and fostering fan engagement to revive the city's spirit.

Managerial record

Aaron Miles' managerial career in independent spans multiple teams and leagues, with an overall record of 248–203 as of the 2025 season. This includes 146–167 with the Pittsburg in the Pacific Association from 2015 to 2018 and 102–36 with the in the Pioneer League (29–13 in 2024 and 73–23 in 2025). In the postseason, Miles' teams achieved a 7–7 record, highlighted by one league championship in the 2025 Pioneer League.
TeamYearsRegular SeasonFinishPostseason Results
Pittsburg Diamonds2015–2018146–1672nd–4thLost in first round (2018)
202429–13Qualified (2nd half)Lost division series 1–2
202573–231stWon Pioneer League championship (5–3)

Personal life

Family

Miles is married to Lauren Miles, with whom he resides in . The couple has four children: Nicole, Jackson, Donovan, and Stella. Post-retirement, Miles has remained actively involved in youth baseball development, serving as the director of baseball performance for Golden State Grind, where he provides private lessons and leads camps focused on hitting, fielding, baserunning, and baseball IQ for young players. His commitment to coaching youth reflects his roots, having grown up in the area playing baseball from a young age. Miles balances his professional coaching duties with the Oakland Ballers and other commitments by prioritizing family time, integrating his passion for baseball into family activities while maintaining a home life centered in the Bay Area community.

Hostage incident

During the 2000 spring training for the Houston Astros in Kissimmee, Florida, Aaron Miles, a 23-year-old minor league infielder, became entangled in an armed robbery at the players' hotel on the night of March 12. Two masked intruders wielding semiautomatic pistols targeted the Holiday Inn where minor leaguers were staying, entering an unlocked second-floor room (Room 254) around 10:30 p.m. There, they confronted five Astros prospects—Morgan Ensberg, Derrek Nicholson, Keith Ginter, Michael Rose, and Eric Cole—along with a female guest, Alicia Szczerba, forcing them to lie face down on the floor before binding their hands and feet with plastic ties and looting the room for cash and personal items. The gunmen, later identified as Alexander Xavier Williams, 21, and Richard Buteau Cook, 23, both from , then moved to the adjacent Room 252, where Miles was alone after returning from dinner. At gunpoint, they demanded money; Miles complied by surrendering about $300 from his wallet. Williams then seized Miles as a , marching him back toward Room 254 in an attempt to extract more valuables from the bound group. During the ordeal, one of the tied-up players in Room 254 freed a hand, phoned a teammate for help, and then dialed 911 at 11:04 p.m., alerting authorities to the situation. As police units arrived within minutes, Cook fled by leaping from the second-story into the , dropping one of the pistols during his escape; he evaded immediate capture but was arrested on April 4, 2000, in . Meanwhile, Williams forced Miles back into Room 252. Sensing an opportunity when Williams momentarily relaxed his grip, Miles lunged and wrestled for control of the gun, slamming Williams against the wall and sustaining a to the neck in the . The commotion drew officers to the , whom broke the glass and commanded Williams to surrender; when he refused and reached for the weapon, Pete Szlezak, a 10-year , fired five or six shots, hitting Williams in the face, shoulders, and . Williams underwent and survived in stable but critical condition. No players or the guest suffered serious injuries, and the bound victims freed themselves shortly after the gunmen left their room. Williams, who had a prior criminal record including armed robbery and aggravated battery, was charged with two counts of armed robbery. Cook, the alleged mastermind, pleaded no contest in 2001 to charges of with assault and , receiving a five-year sentence. The episode garnered national media attention, underscoring the perils faced by minor leaguers far from home and Miles' decisive role in preventing escalation. Astros assistant general manager Tim Purpura described the outcome as fortunate, noting the players' composure under duress.

References

  1. https://www.mlb.com/player/aaron-miles-425446
  2. https://www.antiochsportslegends.com/inductee/aaron-miles-2/
  3. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/milesaa01.shtml
  4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Aaron_Miles
  5. https://sfstandard.com/section-415/2025/10/21/aaron-miles-oakland-ballers-champions/
  6. https://californiawinterleague.com/instructors/
  7. https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6599707/2025/09/05/artificial-intelligence-baseball-manager-oakland-ballers/
  8. http://baseball.playerprofiles.com/sampleplayerprofile.asp?playerid=6955
  9. https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/eastbaytimes/name/herbert-miles-obituary?id=8761520
  10. https://bleacherreport.com/articles/673131-aaron-miles-big-leaguer-proud-of-local-roots
  11. https://www.facebook.com/AntiochSportsLegends/posts/as-major-league-baseball-moves-closer-to-the-world-series-lets-recognize-antioch/1059623879286312/
  12. https://www.eastbaytimes.com/obituaries/herbert-talmadge-miles/
  13. https://www.antiochsportslegends.com/inductee/aaron-miles/
  14. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=miles-001aar
  15. https://www.milb.com/player/aaron-miles-425446
  16. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/2000_Rule_V_Draft
  17. https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2006_WS.shtml
  18. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/trades.php?p=milesaa01
  19. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=milesaa01
  20. https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/COL/2005.shtml
  21. https://retrosimba.com/2015/12/06/how-aaron-miles-became-cardinals-starter-at-2nd-base/
  22. https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/playerpost.php?p=milesaa01&ps=ws
  23. https://africa.espn.com/mlb/news/story?id=3181417
  24. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2010/04/cardinals-sign-aaron-miles.html
  25. https://www.espn.com/blog/chicago/cubs/post/_/id/150/chicago-cubs-will-activate-aaron-miles-from-the-disabled-list
  26. https://www.sj-r.com/story/sports/2009/05/27/cubs-put-miles-on-dl/43201210007/
  27. https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/dodgers-now/story/2011-02-07/dodgers-sign-aaron-miles-to-minor-league-contract-with-non-roster-invite-to-spring
  28. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/02/dodgers-sign-aaron-miles-2.html
  29. https://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles/dodger-thoughts/post/_/id/17332/remembering-2011-aaron-miles
  30. https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/06/10/pittsburg-mettle-baseball-teams-season-gets-underway/
  31. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pittsburg_Mettle
  32. https://ballnine.com/2024/05/13/miles-ahead/
  33. https://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Pittsburg_Diamonds
  34. https://www.si.com/mlb/athletics/news/oakland-ballers-add-member-of-st-louis-cardinals-2006-world-series-team-to-coaching-staff
  35. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-ballers-promote-world-series-winner-aaron-miles-interim-manager/
  36. https://localnewsmatters.org/2024/07/23/oakland-ballers-announce-manager-change-aaron-miles-takes-over-from-micah-franklin/
  37. https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/20250910lxbscj
  38. https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025p/schedule
  39. https://www.pioneerleague.com/sports/bsb/2025p/releases/20250922d7x176
  40. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakland-ballers-win-first-pioneer-league-championship/
  41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HAaP1UbQIfM
  42. https://www.kqed.org/news/12057075/ballers-bring-home-oaklands-first-baseball-title-since-1989
  43. https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2025/releases/202509034ethcv
  44. https://www.oaklandballers.com/sports/bsb/2024/schedule
  45. https://www.pioneerleague.com/sports/bsb/2024/overall-standings
  46. https://www.usphonebook.com/aaron-wade-miles/UwNygjMzQTM0QDNwcjMzADO20yR
  47. https://goldenstategrind.com/aaron-miles-lessons
  48. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/03/14/ballplayers-are-robbed-at-gunpoint/
  49. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/03/16/astros-robbery-suspect-has-history-of-felonies-2/
  50. https://www.espn.com/mlb/news/2000/0313/422306.html
  51. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2000/04/05/cops-capture-2-in-astros-stickup-2/
  52. https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2000/03/14/robbers-strike-out-at-astros-camp/26674709007/
  53. https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2001/10/21/2-going-on-trial-in-robbery-2/
  54. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/03/14/sports/baseball-astros-minor-leaguers-tangle-with-robbers.html
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