A Long Road Back
Shelby Miller, a 35‑year‑old left‑hander who has amassed over 920 innings in the majors, is again being discussed as a potential September call‑up as clubs expand their rosters.
Drafted in the first round by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2009, Miller peaked with a 3.7‑fWAR season in Atlanta in 2015, but a series of ups and downs saw him trade to three other clubs before a brief stint with the Chicago Cubs in 2021.
In 2023 he reinvented himself as a reliever, abandoning his former starter role for a splitter‑heavy approach that produced elite whiff rates, a 2.74 ERA and a 3.67 xFIP.
A torn ulnar collateral ligament suffered in early September 2024 forced Miller under the knife for Tommy John surgery, halting his momentum just as the postseason picture was coming into focus.
After a six‑month recovery, he returned to Triple‑A Iowa in July 2024, still throwing near 96 mph and striking out ten batters in six innings, a showing that kept his velocity intact despite limited recent work.
The Cubs, eyeing a left‑handed bridge to the back of the bullpen, must weigh Miller’s availability against other injured arms such as Justin Steele and Caleb Thielbar, while also balancing the team’s postseason ambitions.
Because Miller’s 60‑day rehab window stretches into 2027, the club can postpone a definitive decision, using the time to assess his readiness for a potential postseason role.