The setup: Mariners right-hander Bryce Miller made his second 2026 rehab start on Friday night, April 24 at Funko Field in Everett, taking the mound for the AquaSox against the Spokane Indians. The plan, per AquaSox manager and Seattle’s player-development staff: stretch to roughly three innings and about 45 pitches as Miller works back from the oblique injury that has kept him on the IL. First pitch was 7:05 PM, and yes — it was Fireworks Friday.
This is what we’ve been waiting for since Wednesday’s announcement.
The Mariners’ actual second-best starter from last season pitched at Funko Field on Friday night. Bryce Miller made his second rehab start of the spring with the AquaSox against the Spokane Indians, the next step in his climb back from the oblique strain that landed him on the IL early in the Mariners’ season.
The Plan for Miller’s Outing
Per the AquaSox release earlier in the week, the target for Friday was three innings or about 45 pitches — a clear escalation from his first rehab outing on April 18 with Triple-A Tacoma, where he threw 33 pitches across 1.2 innings (21 of them for strikes), striking out two and walking one while allowing three runs on four hits.
Three runs on four hits in fewer than two innings isn’t the line Mariners fans wanted to see from Tacoma — but the two strikeouts, the strike-throwing rate, and the simple fact that he was on the mound are what mattered. The Mariners have been deliberately conservative with him. The oblique is the kind of injury where you can’t rush the timeline.
That’s why Friday night’s start in Everett mattered. Stepping back from Triple-A to the Northwest League gave Seattle a controlled environment to push his pitch count and build his stamina without the consequences of a full Triple-A workload. By the time you read this, Miller’s box-score line for Friday will be public — but the meaningful number isn’t ERA. It’s pitch count, innings, and whether he came out of it healthy.
The Spokane Series Has Quietly Been a Showcase
Even before Miller took the mound, the AquaSox were riding a hot stretch of the homestand against the Indians. Tuesday was a 5-2 Adam Dollard gem — six innings, two hits, no runs, one walk, seven strikeouts, the best start of an AquaSox arm so far this season. Wednesday was the 7-5 Eike-and-Caron offensive show, with Tyler Eike‘s 418-foot home run still being talked about and Felnin Celesten Jr. finally getting hot at the plate.
And Thursday? Carlos Jimenez went 2-for-2 with a home run, a double, two walks, and six RBIs in an 11-3 demolition of Spokane. Jimenez has been the kind of streaky bat that turns into a 30-RBI week when he gets locked in. Right now he’s locked in. That was Everett’s third straight win over the Indians, who came in with a four-game losing streak of their own and saw it become five.
Going into Friday’s game, Everett was 6-4 on the season, six runs of separation in the standings, and looking like a team that found its footing after a rough opening series at Eugene.
The Funko Field Experience Around Bryce Miller
Miller starting at Funko Field on a Friday night was always going to be the most attended weeknight game of the homestand. The combination of a real major leaguer on the mound, Fireworks Friday, and the AquaSox playing actually-good baseball was the perfect Everett baseball night.
If you couldn’t make Friday, the homestand finishes Saturday April 25 at 7:05 PM and Sunday April 26 at 1:05 PM. The Sunday afternoon game is the one to bring kids to — Funko Field on a sunny April afternoon is one of the better $15 entertainment values in Snohomish County, and prospects like Celesten, Eike, Aidan Caron, and Carlos Jimenez are showing legitimate signs of taking a step forward this season.
What’s Next for Miller
The full picture from Friday will come together in Saturday morning’s box scores. The number that will dictate Miller’s next step isn’t strikeouts or earned runs — it’s how he feels Saturday morning. If the oblique held up under a 45-pitch workload, the next move is almost certainly back to Tacoma for a longer outing, then a final tune-up before activation.
Mariners fans need Miller back. The rotation has been doing its best, but the version of Miller who threw 98+ mph with command in his April 18 Tacoma outing — that’s a version of this rotation Seattle needs in May and June. Friday at Funko Field was a real step in that direction.
And honestly? It’s just kind of cool to have him here. AquaSox baseball with a major-league rehab start is the platonic ideal of a Friday night in Everett.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bryce Miller pitch for the Everett AquaSox?
Miller is on a rehab assignment from the Mariners’ injured list (oblique strain). Pitching for the High-A AquaSox lets the Mariners build him up gradually before sending him back to Triple-A Tacoma and eventually back to Seattle’s starting rotation.
What was the plan for Miller’s April 24 start?
Per the AquaSox release, the target was approximately three innings or 45 pitches — a step up from his April 18 Tacoma rehab outing, where he threw 33 pitches in 1.2 innings.
Where do the AquaSox play?
At Funko Field in Everett, also known as Everett Memorial Stadium. Located near Everett Community College on Broadway.
When are the rest of the AquaSox vs Spokane games?
Saturday, April 25 at 7:05 PM and Sunday, April 26 at 1:05 PM. The Saturday game is the final 7:05 first pitch of the homestand; Sunday is a 1:05 afternoon game.
How is the AquaSox season going so far?
Entering Friday, Everett was 6-4 on the season after winning three straight over Spokane. The team has scored 16 runs in the eighth inning across the last six games — a sign the lineup is figuring it out.
Who are the AquaSox top prospects to watch in 2026?
Catcher Felnin Celesten Jr., outfielder Tyler Eike (whose 418-ft homer Wednesday was the best AquaSox swing of the homestand), infielder Aidan Caron, and outfielder Carlos Jimenez (six RBIs Thursday).
How can I get tickets to AquaSox games?
Tickets are available at the Funko Field box office on game days or through the official AquaSox site at milb.com/everett. Standard tickets are usually under $20, and Sunday day games are family-friendly.
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