TAMPA — Since Shelby Miller was an All-Star in 2015, it’s mostly been ugly for the right-hander.
Over the last seven seasons — he didn’t play in 2020, opting out of the COVID-shortened season – he’s posted a 7.04 ERA in 61 appearances (36 starts).
But on Sunday, the Yankees signed the 31-year-old to a minor-league deal. He thinks he can turn it around.
“Some of the stuff I have right now is better than it’s been, even early in my career,” Miller told reporters in the clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field on Monday morning. “I knew I had a good fastball back then but I never really had an awesome pitch to get guys out. I’ve developed a slider and it’s been pretty good. I only threw it last year but it was a couple ... I didn’t really throw it much, I didn’t have many innings. So I’ve just got to develop that, see where it takes me. Get ahead of guys and we’ll see what happens. I think there’s still plenty left in the tank.”
MIller went 6-17 but had a 3.02 ERA in 33 starts for the Braves in 2015, landing him on the All-Star team. Then Atlanta traded him to the Diamondbacks as part of a package that brought the Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson and outfielder Ender Inciarte, who’s in Yankees camp on a minor-league deal. Miller also finished third in the National League Rookie of the Year vote in 2013.
The Yankees appear content with their starting pitching depth at the big-league level, and Miller hopes he can factor into the pitching staff after likely spending at least some time at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com.
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