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Trust falls, bulldogs and other reasons Braves fans should be excited about Shelby Miller

Braves fans have a lot to be excited about in Miller

By Mike Bertha

The Braves quickly got in the spirit of the Hot Stove with a blockbuster trade, sending outfielder Jason Heyward and relief pitcher Jordan Walden to the Cardinals in exchange for starting pitcher Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins.

While Heyward will be missed, Braves fans have plenty to be excited about in Miller. The 24-year-old right-handed starter was all set to play baseball for the Texas A&M Aggies, until the Cardinals selected him with the 19th overall pick in the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft. Here are a few things Braves fans should know about the newest member of the team:

vs. Braves - First of all, the best part about having Miller on the Braves is that he won't be pitching against the Braves. In four career starts against Atlanta, Miller is 3-1 with a 1.82 ERA with the Braves hitting .220 off him.

Style - Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which means that ugly sweater season is rapidly approaching. No one's going to be sipping egg nog by the yule log more fashionably than Miller.

vs. Nationals - The Nats are already being touted among 2015's World Series favorites, so if you're rooting for a team in the NL East, you're looking for pitchers who will be able to keep Bryce Harper and Co. in check. Through four career starts against the Nats, Miller is 2-0 with a 0.73 ERA as Washington hitters have earned a .170 average over 24 2/3 innings.

Makes a Stiff Drink - It's not too often you see MLB players making appearances on Bravo, but that's exactly what happened when Miller and then-teammate Jon Jay stopped by Watch What Happens Live to "guest bartend" for host Andy Cohen.

Anything You Can Do - Miller's competitive nature extends far beyond what goes into the win column. When he squared off against former teammate Joe Kelly -- who was the best man at Miller's wedding --the two settled on a $100 bet to see who could get a hit off the other.

Awww - Immediately following the 2012 season, Miller proposed to his girlfriend of two years, Amy Peters. He did so on a candlelit island on the Jacks Forks River in Eminence, Missouri.

Postseason Experience - Even though he's only 24, Miller has pitched in three different postseasons including two scoreless innings in Game 6 of the 2012 NLCS, though the Cardinals lost the game and the series to the Giants.

Humility - Just before the All-Star break during the 2014 season, the Cardinals moved Miller to the bullpen. Miller embraced the change, submitting himself to the crazy whims of his fellow relief pitchers:

Miller

For what it's worth, he posted a 2.29 ERA in 12 second-half starts after regaining his spot in the Cardinals' rotation.

5/10/13 - On the morning of May 10, 2013, a 22-year-old Miller woke up and prepared to make his eighth career Major League start. Rockies right fielder Eric Young led off the game with a single. Miller retired the next 27 Rockies hitters in order, striking 13 of them out in the process. His game score of 98 is the highest in the history of the Cardinals. Potential much?

Awww x 2 - It's no secret that many Braves fans spend their fall Saturdays in Bulldogs red cheering on the University of Georgia on the gridiron. So, we're guessing that Miller and Teddy, here, are going to be more than comfortable in Atlanta.

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