Miller rehabbing in Akron

A familiar face has been spotted in the Aeros clubhouse since the team returned to Canal Park for their final regular-season homestand.

The appearance of a certain former Aeros player gave manager Mike Sarbaugh the perfect occasion to lighten the mood Tuesday with his team coming off a dissapointing 2-6 trip despite trying to nail down a wild card spot in the Eastern League Southern Division.

"Yep, that's right, (right-handed pitcher) it's Adam Miller,'' the first-year skipper said. "And (left-hander Jeremy) Sowers will be here on Friday...Naw, I'm just joking!"

Sarbaugh was making light of a sitaution last year at this time when both pitchers came down from Triple-A Buffalo after the Bisons season ended to join the Aeros for their postseason run - much to the ire of the rest of the league.

But this time around Miller, the Indians No. 1 prospect according to Baseball America, is not in town to lend a hand. Instead, he's in Akron rehabbing an injury after undergoing surgery May 27 on his right middle finger to re-attach the flexor tendon to the bone.

"He's on his way back and just starting to throw bullpens,'' Sarbaugh said. "I don't know any specifics except that he's for the rest of the time we are just throwing on the side. Then I think he's going to Mahoning Valley, because their season is a little longer than ours.''