The Tampa Bay Times reported last night that former major league pitcher Justin Miller was found dead shortly after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday night, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office. What we don’t know is where the body was found or what the cause of death was; as the Sherriff’s Office has yet to disclose any of that information while their investigation is still underway.

Miller leaves behind his wife of 15 years, Jessica, and their two sons, Joseph, 18, and Johnnie, 7.

Originally selected by the San Francisco Giants in the 34th round of the 1995, Miller chose not to sign, opting to go to Los Angeles Harbor College instead. Since he had attended a junior college, Miller was eligible for the draft again in 1997 (as opposed to if he had gone to a typical four-year university, in which case he wouldn’t have been draft eligible again until either his junior year or when he turned 21). As a Junior College All-American was selected by the Rockies in fifth round. After playing at Portland (SS-A), Asheville (A), and Salem (A+) for the Rockies in 1997, 1998, and 1999, respectively, Miller was traded to the Oakland A’s along with Jamey Wright and Henry Blanco for Scott Karl and Jeff Cirillo.

After starting 18 games at Double-A Midland in 2000, he was promoted to the Triple-A Sacramento River Cats where he pitched to a 4-1 record and a 2.41 ERA in nine starts that season. The following year he found himself back in Sacramento, and following an unspectacular season was traded along with Eric Hinske to the Blue Jays for flame-throwing closer Billy Koch.

He made his major league debut for Toronto on April 12, 2002 at Tropicana Field against the Devil Rays. After promptly hitting the first two batters he faced in his big league career — shortstop Chris Gomez and left fielder Jason Tyner — he proceeded to pitch 2 2/3 innings in relief of starter Brian Cooper, giving up one run on four hits while both walking and striking out two batters. Overall he threw 73 pitches to 15 batters before giving way to Corey Thurman in the Blue Jays’ 14-7 victory.

In parts of 7 major league seasons he appeared in 216 games, starting 33 of them; pitching to a 24-14 record and a 4.82 ERA for the Blue Jays, Marlins, Giants, and Dodgers. In 375 2/3 big league innings Miller gave up 377 hits, 201 earned runs (plus 16 unearned for a total of 217), 187 walks (18 intentionally), and posted 4 balks, 19 wild pitches, 23 hit batters, and struck out 300 of the 1,656 batters he faced in his career.

He also pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers organizations during his career, although exclusively in the minors. He also appeared in 12 games for Bobby Valentine‘s Chiba Lotte Marines in the Japanese Pacific League in 2006, and played in the 1992 Little League World Series for the Torrance, CA team.

After being before released by the Mariners and Rangers in 2011, Miller returned to the Dodgers organization (with whom he appeared in 19 major league games in 2010) by signing minor league contract on the fourth of July. Three Triple-A appearances and less than a month later Miller was released by the Dodgers, thus ending his professional baseball career.

Following his playing career Miller had developed quite a passion for coaching, according to his wife. “He was gifted at putting things in a language that kids could understand. That was something he was really proud of,” she said. Last year he founded Justin Miller’s Legacy Baseball/Softball and Personal Training in Clearwater, Florida, where he offered pitching and hitting lessons to young athletes.

Justin Miller might be most remembered for his heavily inked frame. Due to his colorful tattoo sleeves, hitters would sometimes complain that they were a distraction, which led MLB to force him to wear a long-sleeved shirt under his jersey. This practice is often unofficially referred to as the “Justin Miller rule.”

RIP Justin Miller (8/27/77 – 6/26/13)