In high school, Miller starred in football, making the all-state 3-A second team as a tight end and punter at Brownwood High School in Texas. Shelby played quarterback until the seventh grade, when he suffered a staph infection.

Shelby was Texas A&M's top recruit in 2009, his senior high school season.

In 2008, pitching for Brownswood High in Abilene, Texas, Miller fired three no-hitters, including a five-inning perfect game that saw him fan 14 of the 15 batters he faced.

Finishing his junior campaign with an 8-2, 1.11 ERA, Miller struck out 113 batters in 63 innings of work. He also hit .413 with nine homers and 32 RBIs, helping him to take his district MVP award and Class 4-A all-state honors.

In April 2009, he tossed his fourth no-hitter. He finished his senior high school season 10-2 with a 1.90 ERA and 153 strikeouts in 77 innings.

Miller will not be the first Brownwood High alumnus to reach the Majors. Two lefthanders, Jim Morris and Jerry Don Gleaton, also toed the big league rubber.

Shelby has a very strong work ethic and dedication to improving his game. He spends a lot of time in the weight room. "I thank God every day," Miller said. "I know the opportunity will be there for me if I take care of business."

Shelby has a blue-collar work ethic. And he is a good, clean-living young man.

"Seniors in high school all do the drinking and the partying. But that's something I stayed away from in high school," Miller said. "I knew the situation I was in, as far as getting drafted. My parents preached not getting in trouble, and I knew I had so much to lose.

"You get so much thrown at you here (in pro ball). Some of these guys go out to bars, but I'm the one sitting back in the room because I'm the young kid," Miller added. "You've got to do the right things, and that's what I'm trying to do, to stay away from all of that so I don't get in trouble." (Kary Booher-Springfield News Leader-5/20/10)

But . . .

August 2011: Miller was under a team-imposed suspension by the Cardinals organization. While Cardinals' officials said they would not discuss the specifics of the reasons for the suspension, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that it was tied to an altercation at an apartment complex that involved alcohol.

Miller missed only one start and the team considers it an isolated incident. In fact, they were pleased how he responded to the punishment.

In 2010, the Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Miller as the #1 prospect in the Cardinals' organization. And he was at the very top of the Cards' prospects again in the spring of 2011 and for the third year in a row in 2012.

They dropped Shelby down to #2 in the spring of 2013, behind only OF Oscar Taveras.

In 2010, Shelby was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

In 2012, the Cardinals were concerned that Shelby had adopted a diet and workout plan that cost him muscle, so it helped him choose a different approach that will strength and stamina.

October 2012: Miller received his first big league start on the final day of the regular season, and he made it memorable. The righty took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and struck out seven.

During 2013 spring training, Miller and Joe Kelly shared a condo, and will serve as each other's best man in the weddings in the fall of 2013. Those weddings will take place one week apart.

May 10, 2013: Shelby gave up a leadoff single to the Rockies’ Eric Young. Young then stole second base. He would end up being the last Rockie to reach base all day. Miller would subsequently set down the next 27 hitters, striking out 13 (including Troy Tulowitzki all three times he faced him) in a 3-0 Cardinals victory. Miller lowered his ERA to 1.58, but he would only throw one more shutout the rest of his Cardinals career before being traded to Atlanta prior to the 2015 season for Jason Heyward.

In 2013, Cards' teammate Allen Craig said of Shelby, "He's great. He just goes right after guys and throws strikes. He works fast. It's a lot of fun to watch."

Miller's father, Mitch, was a member of the Brownwood Fire Department. Shannon Stone, a friend of the family and member of the Brownwood Fire Department, died at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington in 2011 when he reached for a ball tossed into the stands by Josh Hamilton and fell.

On their initial meeting:

They met in June 2011, when he began playing for the Springfield Cardinals, a minor league team in Missouri. Ms. Peters was a member of its cheering squad. “We had to sign a piece of paper telling us we could not socialize with the players,” she said. “I’ve always been really bad at following rules.”

On the early stages of their relationship:

“I had noticed immediately that Amy was beautiful,” Miller said, and he was drawn to her lively and outgoing personality. He wasted no time in calling her—despite the fact that he had recently started dating someone else.

She, too, found him attractive, but had a boyfriend of three years. That boyfriend, however, had recently taken a job out of state, and she wasn’t ready to give up her life in Springfield to follow him. Besides her cheerleading job, she was enjoying her work at a hair salon.

On the hardships of dating a professional athlete:

Their relationship hit serious bumps during spring training in 2012. “We didn’t know how to handle the baseball life,” he said. Ms. Peters had quit her job at the salon in Springfield, and moved with him to Florida.

“I felt like I was losing my identity,” she said. “It was like I was living Shelby’s life. I was just there for him.”

At the same time, he was struggling with his on-field performance and came home with little energy to interact with Ms. Peters. She moved back to Springfield and returned to work.

On getting back on the same page:

They made time for each other, even for the lighter side of life. She thinks that he had been groomed from an early age (thanks to his three sisters) on how to interact with women. When she wants company for a pedicure or a tanning session, he joins her. “When Amy wants me to be a girlie guy,” he said, “I’m willing to do that for her. It’s fun.”

After the 2015 season, Shelby was traded from Cardinals to the Braves. Why?

Stubbornness not to change, not to go with pitch selection from catcher Yadier Molina, eventually did not bode well with manager Mike Matheny or the Cardinals organization. He was viewed as a liability versus an asset to the team's future.  

In an article by Bill Ivie, Jr. of Bleacher Report: "Miller said he’s been a 'stubborn pitcher' in the past, sticking to what he knows even when teammates and coaches who might know better offered him advice. That included Miller sticking with a four-seam fastball that opposing batters constantly fouled off, raising his pitch count."

The Cardinals organization is one, I feel along with many Cardinals fans, to a fault with their unwavering faith that gives a player every opportunity to play, to prove themselves, to prove they are a team player. With the mindset of Miller and his unwillingness to change for the better of the team, this was not the Cardinals Way. Thus, Miller made for a great trade chip. (Beth Chapman / Sportsblog)

July 15, 2015: In the midst of a breakout campaign in his first year with the Braves, Miller had every intention of enjoying his first trip to the All-Star Game.

And while Miller did not pitch in the National League's loss at Great American Ball Park, that did nothing to take away from the 24-year-old's appreciation for the All-Star honors. "Not at all. If I got in there, cool. If not, cool," Miller said. "There's obviously a lot of great arms here, a lot of guys that are trying to get in there and pitch. If I happen to not get in there, it wasn't a big deal."

The pregame ceremony, which featured a tribute to the four "Greatest Living Players"—Sandy Koufax, Willie Mays, Johnny Bench, and Hank Aaron—especially piqued Miller's enthusiasm. Koufax threw out the ceremonial first pitch to Bench.

"That was definitely cool to see those four guys out there. That was one of the coolest first pitches you'll probably ever see," Miller said. "The introduction and the whole thing was a first-class setup. Cincinnati did a good job putting it on and I had a lot of fun." (A Shirkey - MLB.com - July 15, 2015)

December 2015: The D-backs pulled off perhaps the stunner of the Winter Meetings, swinging a blockbuster deal to acquire starter Shelby Miller. But, really, we shouldn't have been so surprised. The answer was staring at us this whole time, if only we'd been willing to look—he was a Diamondback as a little leaguer.

Shelby and his wife bought a house in a Phoenix neighborhood in January 2016. And there are a few coyotes around to threat their dogs—a bulldog named Teddy and a maltipoo named Nixon (not after the president, but the brand of watch). 

When it comes to supporting a cause, Shelby certainly holds veterans and active-duty military members near and dear to his heart. That's because his grandfather Chuck Pruett, whom he describes more like a father figure, was more than just an Army Blue Spader (26th Infantry Regiment). Pruett never missed one of Miller's baseball or football games and is the primary reason for the right-hander's countless veteran initiatives with the D-backs.

Miller's ongoing project is the Heroes F1rst ticket program, which provides four D-backs tickets to an active-duty military member for each home game this season.  "I've met a couple of the families, and I get a lot of tweets from people who get to come to the games," Miller said. "I remember meeting one family where the son just got back from Afghanistan, and you could tell they were really excited to be here. It was so satisfying to see just how happy they were."

One particularly special experience a few months ago is permanently etched into the pitcher's mind. On July 4, he caught the ceremonial first pitch from a Navy SEAL and was gifted a meaningful token in return.  "They carry around these badges of what rank and division they were in, and he gave one to me," Miller said. "It was pretty cool he gave that to me. It meant a lot."

In addition to his ongoing home-game efforts, the right-hander visited MANA (Marines, Army, Navy, Air Force) House in Phoenix earlier this season, a facility founded in 2008 by 14 homeless veterans to offer individualized basic resources, community and advocacy for military members. This year alone, 199 veterans have been housed there, while more than 500 residents have graduated from the facility over the past eight years. 

"It is a pretty special place; a place of veterans helping other veterans," Miller said. "All of them have different stories and different backgrounds. My grandfather and great-grandfather having been soldiers is the reason why I've wanted to take my efforts for the community there, and it was a great experience visiting."

MANA House received the Ken Kendrick Grand Slam Award through the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation in 2017 for a $100,000 grant that would later fund a commercial kitchen in the newfound home to many veterans. The recent $3.1 million renovation for the facility, which provides food to homeless veterans and the resources for job training in food services, is the result of the promising award.

"My papa, my grandad influenced the way I went about my life," said Miller, who plans on continuing his support of veterans going forward. "He was somebody I talked to a lot, relied on a lot, and helped me with everyday decisions, as well as life decisions."  (Jorgensen - mlb.com - 9/18/18)

Aug 3, 2020: Miller was on the restricted list.

Sept 23, 2022: Nearly a full year had passed since Shelby Miller had taken a big league mound. It had been even longer (1,541 days, to be exact) since the right-hander had stepped on this particular hill — the one at Chase Field, the site of some of his toughest moments in the Majors.

It’s those struggles that have had Miller out to show he can still pitch at this level. And on this night, the 31-year-old took an encouraging step toward proving that.

Making his Giants debut, Miller struck out seven of the 12 batters he faced over 2 2/3 scoreless innings of relief, serving an instrumental role in San Francisco’s 6-5 win over Arizona. It was Miller’s first MLB appearance since Oct. 2, 2021, and he became the 64th player used by the Giants this season, tying the franchise record set in '19. (J Rill - MLB.com - Sept 24, 2022) 

June 10, 2023: Shelby was on the bereavement list. 

Miller has played for nine MLB teams and worn a host of different numbers. But until this season, he had never before worn a single digit. When he signed with the Tigers over the winter, he said he received a small list of jerseys still available.

“It was like 13, which I don’t really like,” Miller said. “I usually would wear 18, but we got Kenta (Maeda). Everything else was like 50 and above.”

Turns out No. 7 was on that list, and 7 happens to be the number Miller’s wife, Erika, wore as a high school volleyball player at Metro Detroit’s Milford High School.

“I was like, ‘I’ll go with whatever you wore in Detroit and see if it brings me a little luck,” Miller said. 
(Stavenhagen - May 20, 2024 - The Athletic)

TRANSACTIONS

June 2009: The Cardinals departed from their long tradition of choosing college players and used its first pick of the draft on a high school pitcher for the first time since 1991. They chose Miller out of Brownwood High School in Abilene, Texas. 

And on August 17, the last day he could sign, Shelby put his signature on a Cardinals contract with a bonus of $2.87 million -- twice MLB’s $1,386,000 recommendation for the No. 19 slot. Ralph Garr Jr. is the scout who signed him.

While it was a big bonus, it was far below his initially advertised $4 million asking price. The club also achieved its goal of bringing him in for less than $3 million. Miller had accepted a scholarship to attend Texas A&M but from the outset made clear his preference to play professionally. 

November 17, 2014: The Braves sent RF Jason Heyward and RHP Jordan Walden to the Cardinals, acquiring Miller and RHP Tyrell Jenkins.

December 8, 2015: The Diamondbacks acquired RHP Shelby Miller and LHP Gabe Speier from the Braves by sending SS Dansby Swanson, OF Ender Inciarte, and RHP Aaron Blair to Atlanta.

January 15, 2016: The D-backs and Miller avoided arbitration, agreeing on a one-year deal for $4.3 million.

Feb 3, 2017: Miller lost his arbitration case to the D-backs, earning $4.7 million.

Feb. 1, 2018: Shelby won his salary arbitration case vs. the Diamondbacks. Miller was awarded a $200,000 raise, to $4.9 million. The Diamondbacks argued he should be paid the same salary as in 2017, when he lost in arbitration after asking for $5.1 million.

Nov 30, 2018: Shelby chose free agency.

Jan 9, 2019: The Rangers signed free agent Miller.

July 4, 2019: The Rangers released Miller.

July 11, 2019:  The Brewers signed Shelby to a minor league deal. The pitching-needy Brewers made Shelby Miller’s Minor League deal, a risk-free roll of the dice that the former All-Star right-hander will rediscover his stuff with another change of venue.

Aug. 28, 2019: The Brewers announced that righty Shelby Miller has been released. He “exercised the release clause in his contract,” per the announcement.

Jan 27, 2020: The Brewers organization signed free agent Miller.

Nov. 2, 2020: Miller became a free agent.

Jan 17, 2021: The Cubs organization signed free agent Miller to a one-year deal with a base salary of $875,000 (with up to $600,000 in performance bonuses) if he is in the Majors in 2021.

May 31, 2021: The Cubs released Miller.

June 26, 2021: The Pirates signed Miller to a minor league contract.

Nov 3, 2021: Shelby chose free agency.

March 27, 2022: The Yankees signed Shelby to a minor league contract.

May 31, 2022: The Yankees released Shelby.

June 8, 2022: The Giants organization signed free agent Shelby.

Nov. 6, 2022: Miller became a free agent.

Nov. 29, 2022: The Dodgers agreed to a contract with right-hander Shelby Miller. The deal is worth a guaranteed $1.5 million.

Nov 2, 2023: Miller elected free agency.

Dec 22, 2023: The Tigers signed free agent Miller to a one-year, $3 million contract with a $4.2 million club option for 2025. The contract includes up to $1,175,000 in performance bonuses for 2024 and 2025: $100,000 each for 50, 55 and 60 games pitched, $150,000 for 70 games pitched and $150,000 each for 40, 45, 50 and 55 games finished.

Miller can also boost his 2025 base salary by up to $1.4 million in performance incentives in 2024: $100,000 each for 50, 55 and 60 games pitched, $150,000 each for 65 and 70 games pitched and $200,000 each for 40, 45, 50 and 55 games finished.

Miller has a lively, late-sinking and boring 90-97 mph FASTBALL that grades at 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He gets good spin on a tight 77-81 mph 12-to-6 power CURVEBALL, and has the arm path to more consistently throw a nasty 85-88 mph CHANGEUP with deception, fade and sink.

In 2013, he added a 88-90 mph CUTTER.

Like all the Texas gunslinger pitchers, he throws his explosive heater overpoweringly and yet effortlessly. That fastball hops and bores in on the hitter partially because of his ease of delivery, which makes it difficult for hitters to square it up.

When he stays on top of his curve, it has downer action. And his changeup slides in on lefthanded hitters.

Shelby's cutter moves a lot. It's a tight breaking pitch he never had; and it is a weapon vs. left and righthanded batters. It moves as much as MadBum's cutter! And nearly all of Miller's cutters hit the corner of the plate . . . amazing. (May 2016)

2016 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball: 57.3% of the time; Sinker 5.3% of the time; Change 5.6%; Curve 11.7%, and Cutter 20.2% of the time.

2017 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball 58.2% of the time, his Change less than 1%; Curve 16.5%, and Cutter 24.5% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 95.8 mph, Change 88.8, Curve 79.2, and Cutter 89.5 mph.

2018 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball 60.1% of the time, his Sinker 3.6%; Change less than 1%; Curve 23.8%, and Cutter 11.9% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 95 mph, Sinker 93.8, Change 88.8, Curve 80.3, and Cutter 90.1 mph.

2019 Season Pitch Usage: 4-seam Fastball 69% of the time, his Sinker less than 1%; Change 2.2%; Curve 24.4%, Cutter 3.9% of the time. Average velocity: 4-seam 94.9 mph, Sinker 93, Change 87.3, Curve 79.9, and Cutter 89.1 mph.

2020 Season Pitch Usage:  Did not pitch.

Shelby has a loose right arm and an easy, fluid delivery that makes his already hard heat look even faster. He has sound mechanics and solid arm action. The ball comes out of his hand with little effort. His height and long arms release the ball a little closer to the plate than average which, along with his deception and velocity, get that ball to the plate in a real hurry.

He is a real competitor with a power pitcher's attitude. He combines an aggressive disposition with impressive poise and a super-cool demeanor. He has a commanding presence on the mound.

Miller has learned the benefit of getting outs quickly, so that he can stay in the game longer. He is economical with his pitch count and also holds his velocity until late in games.

Shelby rarely gives up a home run. In fact, hitters make only weak contact on Miller most of the time.

Miller's command is good, but needs to get more consistent.

Early in 2012, he struggled for the first time as a pro, going 4-8, 6.17 ERA in his first 17 Triple-A starts before resetting his mechanics and getting told he couldn't shake off his catcher. He went 7-2, 2.88 ERA, with a 70-7 K-BB ratio in 57 second-half innings and rode that success into a September callup and a postseason role.

Shelby has what it takes to be the ace of a big league staff, a #1 starter.

In 2013, Baseball America rated Miller's fastball at 70, his curve at 60, his change at 50 (average), and his control and command at 55 and 50, respectively.

In a June 2013 interview, Miller said, "I have a tendency of letting up in the first inning. There’s no telling how many first hits I’ve given up to the first batter, letting them get on base somehow. I’ve got to figure out a way to be aggressive the way I am in the middle of the game and towards the end in those first couple innings.”

Wanting to find a way to keep hitters from sitting on his high fastball, Miller thought the addition of a cutter could be a weapon. He had seen how effectively Adam Wainwright and Lance Lynn used the pitch, and that prompted Miller to throw a few in a late-season start. After those worked OK, Miller featured the pitch a few more times in his next start, with even more success.

"I'm not going to change the way I pitch, but I think it's something to have," Miller said. "Just getting in the hitters' head and let them know you have a little something extra there. I think that's going to be a real good pitch for me in the future. If it keeps progressing forward from where it is, it's going to be one of my better pitches. But right now, we're just trying to mix it up more."

Miller throws his cut fastball with an average velocity of 91 mph, about 3 mph slower than his average fastball velocity. The pitch also has more movement than a traditional fastball.

"To come up with something completely new [in-season] is very unique," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "He had a couple yesterday that it looked like it cut but was so hard that I ended up asking Yadi about it in the middle of the game. He said, 'Yeah, that's a cutter.' It was really impressive. For a guy who has been getting a feel for his breaking ball and who has obviously been living on his fastball, to throw a hard, 90-plus [mph] cutter in there with a hard-rising fastball, that's a great mix."

"Yadi called it a lot," Miller said. "Obviously, I'm going to go with what he calls. I have all the faith in the world in him. I know it's not going to be that good every single time I go out, but if I can have that extra pitch in the mix, I think it's going to take me to the next step of being that much better. There's always room to improve on something."  (Langosch - mlb.com - 8/25/13)

Shelby has had some ups and downs, but he's always kept an eye down the road and has always been open to experimenting with new pitches.

The reality is, Miller has plenty of room to improve, and the Cardinals liked the fact that he's looking to do just that, no matter what the calendar indicates should be the focus.

That openness to change was on display when he got a start against the Phillies in August 2014. Miller allowed three runs in six innings and used a sinker to great effect.

"Well, I started throwing a sinker," said Miller when he was asked about the exceptional movement he had on his pitches. "For what it is." Miller's sinker is far from perfected, but he effectively used it on a night he allowed five hits, walked two and struck out three.

"Those side sessions, flat grounds [they throw] and the work they do over four days are important," Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. "Sometimes it's about maintaining, and other times you are working on something. He was working on something, which is impressive for late August. To try and add a new pitch towards the end of the season is commendable. He knows he needs to make small adjustments. This could be a big thing for his career. He still has room to grow, but it's a bold step."

"I tried Justin Masterson's grip, and I threw it in my last bullpen," said Miller. "As a staff, we liked it. We talked throughout the week how to use it. The key for me is to just throw it. It's a pitch that has to progress."  (Radano - mlb.com - 8/24/14)

LONG LOSING STREAK

August 26, 2015: For the first time in more than three months, Miller seemed to have everything he needed to end the most frustrating span of his young career. But after being reintroduced to the comfort of a multi-run lead during a game with the Rockies, he endured an ugly seventh inning that extended his winless streak to an Atlanta-record 18 consecutive starts. Though Miller earned his first All-Star selection justifiably this season, Miller now owns the distinction of having gone winless in more consecutive starts during a season than any other pitcher in Atlanta history. (He had previously shared the dubious record with Carl Morton, who had 17 winless starts to begin the 1976 season.)

October 4, 2015: Somewhere down the line, Shelby Miller will likely appreciate some of the mental fortitude he was forced to develop as he spent most of the past four months enduring long bouts of frustration and misfortune.

But for now, the righthander can simply take solace in the fact that he will not enter the offseason carrying the burden of a winless streak that contradicted how impressive he truly was this 2015 season. Given one last opportunity on the regular season's final day to end a winless streak of more than four months, Miller took the mound at Turner Field and produced a stellar performance against his former Cardinals teammates. His eight scoreless innings guided the Braves to a 6-0 win in the first game of a doubleheader and earned him his first victory since May 17.

Miller on "cultivating his curveball":  “I probably didn’t start throwing a curveball until high school. Growing up, my dad always told me they’re not good for your arm — not at an early age — and that changeups are better. But then there was this guy named Jerry Don Gleaton in my hometown. He played professionally, and was a baseball coach at Howard Payne University and I worked with him. He taught me some mechanical things, showed me some grips, and it kind of went from there.

“When it comes to throwing a curveball, you want to … essentially, what they tell you is to think fastball all the way to the very end, until you spin it — until you break it off. Same mechanics as your fastball, but then at the end you spin the baseball.

“Grip-wise, there are multiple ways you can throw it. Some people spike their curveballs. Some people go across the horseshoe. I throw it with the horseshoe. I’ve actually changed my grip multiple times, but the one I’ve stuck with the most is the one Adam Wainwright throws. He grips it with the horseshoe, and has the inside of his thumb on a seam. He kind of flicks it, which is how he gets that little extra spin. That’s what I’m throwing now.

“When a pitch isn’t doing what you want it to, you will toy with it from time to time. You’ll maybe go back and forth a little. We have all these things now that can show you the spin and the break on your pitches — the TrackMans and the Rapsodos — and you can tinker with the help of those. When you find the grip that’s working best, that’s the one you usually go with. For me, it’s pretty much just a standard grip on a 12-6 curveball, and I try to throw the crap out of it.” (David Laurila - Fangraphs - June 25, 2019)

2019 Season: Miller posted an 8.59 ERA in 44 innings over 19 appearances (eight starts) for the Rangers.

2020 Season: Miller opted out of the 2020 season.

In just 10 games, Miller let up three home runs and tallied an underwhelming strikeout rate of 15.3.  (Jake Slebodnick@_RadioJake  Oct 14, 2021)

2022 Season: The 32-year-old Miller has had a long career with many ups and downs. And while you may not have realized he’s still pitching in MLB, he actually has quietly reinvented himself over the last year or so.

Shelby is now a reliever pitching only in short stints and split time in the 2022 season between the Yankees and Giants. He threw very well at the Triple-A level (53.1 innings, 31.2 K%, 9.5 BB%, 2.87 ERA) and was rewarded with a late season cameo in San Francisco where he struck out 14 of the 30 hitters he faced.

Miller is succeeding with a mid-90’s fastball that gets excellent riding action towards the top of the zone. He pairs that good heater with an 82-mph slider that generates big horizontal sweep. These unique pitch qualities have been commonplace among arms in this Rays stable in recent years.

On top of the intriguing movement patterns in his pitches, Miller also shows off elite release extension and spin rates on his offerings. Because of these pitch traits, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Miller land a guaranteed big league contract this winter.  (Cole Mitchem - Nov 28, 2022)

2023 Season: With the Dodgers he used his slider just 16 percent of the time, and mostly against righties. Miller preferred his fastball (57.6 percent) and splitter (26.2 percent), but all three pitches were useful.

In total, Miller had a 1.71 ERA and 3.33 xERA in 42 innings, and pitched in gradually higher-leverage situations as the season wore on.

Miller was effective against both right-handed batters and lefties, but especially so with the platoon advantage. Right-handers hit just .139/.209/.215 against him.

Miller walked a ton of batters early, with 14 unintentional free passes in his first 20 innings, and a 17.3-percent walk rate through May 16. But after that, over his final 20 games and 22 innings, Miller issued only three unintentional walks for a 3.8-percent walk rate.

Neck inflammation sidelined Miller in mid-June, but an MRI revealed further damage, showing a herniated disc in his neck.

“It was a grind. At first, I didn’t think the extent of it would be as bad as it was,” Miller said later in the season. “We were pretty shocked with the results, but it is what it is. It put me out for a little bit.”

Miller missed two and a half months before getting activated off the injured list on August 31, and was pretty much lights out after that. He allowed just seven hits, one intentional walk, and no runs in 12 innings through the end of the regular season, with 11 strikeouts.

The Dodgers used Miller for extended outings relative to short relievers. He had five appearances of exactly two innings during the regular season and one more in Game 1 of the NLDS. Miller allowed only one run on two hits in those 12 combined innings, with 14 strikeouts.

Even with the missed time, his 42 innings were his most in the majors since 2019, and his 42 strikeouts were his most since 2016.

Stats: 1.71 ERA, 3.33 xERA, 3.68 FIP, 3-0, 1 Sv, 42 IP, 42 K, 19 BB  (Eric Stephen@ericstephen - Nov 20, 2023)

May 25-June 20, 2016: Shelby was on the DL with a right index finger.

April 24, 2017: Miller was placed on the 10-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation.

April 27-Nov 3, 2017: Miller was placed on the 60-Day DL with a tear in the right elbow. Shelby ended up having season-ending Tommy John surgery.

Feb 19-June 25, 2018: Miller was on the DL recovering from Tommy John surgery.

July 12, 2018: Miller was on the DL with right elbow stiffness.

And on July 31-Sep 29, 2018: Shelby was placed on the 60-day DL.

July 19-Aug. 11, 2019: Miller was on the IL.

April 22-May 26, 2021: Miller was on the IL with low back strain.

June 21-Aug 31, 2023: Shelby was on the IL with neck pain. Miller was dealing with neck pain in mid-June, but as the pain didn’t subside, the Dodgers realized the injury was more serious than initially thought.  

July 14, 2023: After the All-Star break, Miller’s injury hasn’t progressed at all and the Dodgers transferred him to the 60-day injured list, sidelining the right-hander until at least Aug. 21.  

May 13-June 4, 2024: Miller was on the IL with ulnar nerve inflammation.

May 17, 2024: Miller underwent a hydro dissection procedure earlier in the week to help nurse the inflammation related to his nerve. He is traveling with the team and played light catch on May 17. The club will monitor the progress of his throwing. 

May 28, 2024: Miller, who underwent a procedure to remove scar tissue from his ulnar nerve, is scheduled to make a rehab appearance for Toledo. The Tigers will evaluate his outing before determining if he should make another rehab appearance or if he could be ready to return from the injured list.