Alan Mills was a professional baseball player who played as a relief pitcher for several teams during his career. He was born on October 18, 1966, in Lakeland, Florida, and attended Polk Community College before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 1986 Major League Baseball draft.
Mills made his Major League debut with the New York Yankees in 1990 and played for them until 1992. He then played for the Baltimore Orioles from 1993 to 1998, the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1999, the Anaheim Angels in 2000, and the Toronto Blue Jays in 2001.
Throughout his career, Mills was known for his fastball, which could reach speeds of up to 98 miles per hour. He was also known for his durability and his ability to pitch in high-pressure situations.
Mills' best season came in 1995 when he posted a 2.61 earned run average (ERA) and recorded 12 saves for the Orioles. He also helped the team reach the American League Championship Series that year.
In total, Mills played in 474 Major League games and recorded a 3.99 ERA. He had a career record of 39 wins and 44 losses and recorded 31 saves.
After retiring from baseball, Mills became a coach and worked in the minor leagues for several years. He was the pitching coach for the Frederick Keys, the Class A-Advanced affiliate of the Orioles, from 2003 to 2005. He then served as the pitching coach for the Bowie Baysox, the Orioles' Double-A affiliate, from 2006 to 2007.
In 2008, Mills was promoted to the Orioles' Major League coaching staff as the bullpen coach. He held that position until 2010 when he was let go by the team.
Mills then spent several years coaching in the minor leagues again before being hired as the pitching coach for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, the affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, in 2018.
Overall, Mills had a successful career as a relief pitcher in the Major Leagues and has continued to have success as a coach in the minor leagues.
⚾