Early Life and Education

Shelby Charles Miller was born on October 10, 1990, in Houston, Texas, United States. He attended Brownwood High School, where he played as a standout pitcher for the school’s baseball team. Known early on for his impressive pitching skills, Miller’s unique style on the mound helped him win numerous games and drew the attention of professional scouts.

MLB Draft and Minor League Success

In 2009, Miller was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft and signed with a $2.875 million signing bonus—a substantial amount for a rookie. He began his professional career with the Quad Cities River Bandits, where he posted a 7–5 win-loss record in the 2010 season, accompanied by a 3.62 earned run average (ERA) and 140 strikeouts. That year, he was selected for the All-Star Futures Game and was named the Cardinals' Minor League Pitcher of the Year.

Continuing his dominance in 2011, Miller was once again honored as the Cardinals' top minor league pitcher and received high praise from analysts, including those at ESPN.com.

Major League Debut and Breakthrough Season

Miller made his Major League debut in 2012 with the St. Louis Cardinals in a game against the New York Mets. He notched his first MLB win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 2013 season marked a high point in his career; he nearly pitched a perfect game against the Colorado Rockies, retiring 27 consecutive batters after allowing a leadoff hit. He also performed exceptionally well against the Milwaukee Brewers that season, recording a 1.03 ERA and earning his 13th win of the year.

Performance Dip

Despite his strong 2013 season, Miller was not included in the Cardinals' starting rotation during the postseason, although he remained on the roster throughout. In 2014, his form declined significantly in the opening months of the season. However, he managed a partial comeback with a strong performance in a 5-0 win against the Toronto Blue Jays.

In 2015, the Cardinals traded Miller to the Atlanta Braves. He signed a one-year, $4.35 million contract with the team. During the early part of the season, Miller excelled—most notably in a game against the Miami Marlins where he improved to a 5–1 record with a 1.33 ERA. His performance earned him a spot in the All-Star Game. At that point, he held a 2.07 ERA, the third-lowest in Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, his performance dropped in September 2015, with his ERA rising to 7.11 and posting one of the poorest nine-inning averages since 1975.