The Detroit Tigers have been busy over the past few weeks fortifying a roster that will look to be competitive yet again in the AL Central come 2024. Pitching has been a central focus for the Tigers, and the front office added yet another arm on December 22 in Shelby Miller. Here’s a closer look at Miller’s 2023 campaign and what he brings to Detroit.
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A Look at Miller
33-year-old Shelby Miller was at one point one of the game’s brightest young pitchers. But over the last two seasons, Miller’s reinvented himself as a strong relief option.
It started in 2022 in the Yankees organization. Miller wound up in San Francisco later that year and struck out 14 over seven innings with the Giants in a late-season cameo that year.
The Dodgers signed him last winter and the move worked very well for LA. In a role that saw him get significant time in the 7th, 8th, and 9th last year, Miller struck out 42 over 42 innings and posted a 0.90 WHIP.
Miller doesn’t have the overpowering velocity on his fastball that one would expect from a strikeout pitcher. However, the 33-year-old makes up for that with some quirks in both his delivery and his stuff.
The former Dodgers reliever’s fastball — one that had an average of 17.5” of induced vertical break last year — plays up with plus extension, which rated in the 97th percentile last year per Statcast. Miller will hide the baseball in his delivery, and it resulted in a lot of whiffs up in the zone.
The new Tiger also deploys a slider and a splitter, the latter of which can be quite a tricky pitch for opposing hitters. It’s one with good arm-side movement and a pitch that he would elevate at times — however, its movement and speed differential off the fastball made it work.
Miller’s command has been a question mark for years. However, that’s less of a concern in the bullpen, where his stuff can play up better.
Miller is the second notable addition to the Tigers bullpen this winter. Detroit recently signed left-hander Andrew Chafin. Per the AP, Miller received a one-year, $3.25MM deal with a club option for 2025 and performance bonuses.
Analysis
The Tigers have been busy this offseason. The first major move in the league past winter involved OF Mark Canha, who was acquired by Detroit in early November. And over the last few weeks, the Tigers added right-handers Kenta Maeda and Jack Flaherty to their 2024 rotation.
While the Tigers bullpen wasn’t necessarily a weakness this past year, the addition of Shelby Miller does give Detroit more support there for 2024. Miller is set to join a formidable bullpen, one that’s set to include Tyler Holton, Will Vest, Jason Foley, and Alex Lange.
The 33-year-old should slot in as a middle reliever that can work against both left and right-handed hitters. Opposing right-handed hitters hit just .209/.215/.425 (.425 OPS) off Miller last season. However, he can get lefties out with that splitter.