Most Interesting People 2017: Andrew Miller

Why He’s Interesting: Acquired in a July 2016 trade, the lanky left-handed reliever possesses a nasty slider and mid-90 mph fastball that left all manner of professional baseball hitters looking silly during the Cleveland Indians’ run to the World Series. The former University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill ace was on another level in the American League Championship Series against the Toronto Blue Jays, striking out 14 of the 26 batters he faced and winning the ALCS MVP award.

Reminder Notes: Even months after the heartbreaking, extra-innings defeat in Game 7 of the World Series, Miller can’t escape the painful reminders of the 8-7 loss. “I live in Tampa, and you still see Cubs World Series gear around town.”

Still a Blast: But he’ll hold onto Rajai Davis’ two-run, game-tying home run in the eighth inning that sent Progressive Field into a frenzy of excitement. “That’s probably the most incredible home run I’ve ever seen. Of everything that went down — even in a losing game — that was an incredible moment.”

Team of Rivals: Miller and his wife, Katie, began dating during high school in Gainesville, Florida. While he attended UNC, she played soccer at Duke University, just 11 miles away. “We lived closer together in college than in Gainesville, probably.” But to this day, the heated Duke-UNC rivalry still brings out their competitive juices. “Basketball season is tough.”

Tall Tales: At 6-foot-7, Miller never got mistaken for a North Carolina hoops player. “Those guys are pretty well-known.” But he did see them in the cafeteria from time to time, including Tar Heel standout Sean May, who was listed at 6-foot-10. But that may have been a stretch. “I certainly think I was able to look eye to eye with him.”

Amusing Antics: During the early parts of games, Miller and his fellow relief pitchers kill time in the bullpen talking fantasy football or joking around. While Miller says almost any story you can dig up will have Bryan Shaw at the center of it, he won’t reveal any of the hijinks. “What happens in the bullpen stays in the bullpen.”

High Heat: Miller, who was the Gatorade Player of the Year in Florida as a high school senior, concedes that facing him then wasn’t without peril. “It was probably pretty scary. I threw a little bit harder because I was trying to get all the scouts out there, and I didn’t care where anything was going.”

That Slider, Tho: Aided by his tall frame and long stride to the first-base side of the mound, Miller’s wipeout slider seems unfair as it cuts from left to right and down toward the ground at about 85 mph. But he’s actually been able to throw the pitch since his early teens. “It’s just kind of the way my arm works. It’s always been a pretty natural movement for me. I’m more jealous of the guys that have change-ups.”