VIERA, Fla. -- Cardinals pitching prospect Shelby Miller hopes and expects to pitch in the big leagues at some point this season. He got his first real taste of what the experience might be like Wednesday afternoon against the Washington Nationals.
After a handful of relief appearances the past two springs, Miller made his first Grapefruit League start while the World Champions let ace Chris Carpenter ease into camp following a heavy workload last year.
And Miller showed the potential that dubbed him the No. 8 overall prospect by Baseball America entering the season, allowing one run on two hits in two innings of work.
"I thought he looked pretty good," said manager Mike Matheny. "I watched him warm up and I thought he had good composure out there. Certainly the second inning was a little smoother for him. He came down in the zone and good things happen when that happens."
Miller's afternoon didn't start the way he would have liked, serving up a leadoff double to Washington's Ian Desmond. But he got two infield popups -- the second of which he collided with third baseman Dan Descalso while trying to get out of the way -- and looked as if he might escape any damage.
But a two-out walk and RBI single from Jason Michaels gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead.
Miller finished the inning strong, striking out Mark Teahen looking to end the inning. He then retired the side in order in the second on an infield pop up and two weak grounders.
The hard-throwing right-hander retired the final four hitters he faced.
"The jitters and stuff were there and just being excited to get a start, it was a lot of fun," Miller said. "I thought it went well. It went a lot better in the second inning than in the first, obviously, but I gave up that big hit to the leadoff guy, that kind of set the tone for them. I'm just lucky I only gave up one run and got myself out of it.
"I just started throwing the ball better down in the zone. I wasn't leaving it up for them to hit. That guy got it really good, on the double, and then I walked a guy and he hits the line drive up the middle and like I said, I felt better in the second inning. That first inning I just left the ball up and they hit them."
Miller was the Cardinals' first round draft choice -- No. 19 overall -- in the 2009 MLB Draft. He spent all of 2010 at Low-A Quad Cities, where he went 7-5 with a 3.62 ERA in 24 starts. He had 140 strikeouts to just 33 walks in 104 1/3 innings.
The hard-throwing right-hander started 2011 at High-A Palm Beach and posted a 2.89 ERA and 81 strikeouts in nine starts before being promoted to Double-A Springfield midway through the year.
While in Springfield, the Cardinals forced Miller to work more on his offspeed pitches. He was having little problem blowing it by guys at the lower levels. But in St. Louis, things will eventually be different.
"They made me throw offspeed a lot more than I have in the past but its something that needs to be done for me to get to St. Louis and something that's going to help me in the long run," Miller said. "I've always thrown fastballs more in the past, but now I've been liking to throw my curveball and changeup more because its fun to watch the pitch move and its fun to make the hitters look a little silly sometimes if you can. Getting quick outs is the best thing in baseball. "
Miller was even better despite the jump in talent level, going 9-3 with a 2.70 ERA in 16 starts with Springfield to finish the year. He had 89 strikeouts to 33 walks and allowed just 72 hits in 86 2/3 innings.
For the season, the right-hander posted a 2.77 ERA and had 170 strikeouts in 139 2/3 innings between the two levels. His progression is expected to continue with a promotion to Triple-A to start 2012.
With Kyle Lohse set to become a free agent at the end of the season, the Cardinals could move Miller into the rotation as early as next year. With an injury, it coul happen even sooner.
The talented right-hander's time in St. Louis is getting close. And he knows it.
"I definitely feel closer than I have the past few years just because I've thrown at the higher levels and succeeded," Miller said. "I had a really good year last year and hopefully I'll have a chance to pitch in St. Louis this year, but really that's up to the head guys. The only thing I can really do is perform well and stay healthy."
