The Los Angeles Dodgers have navigated a litany of pitching injuries during the run to back-to-back World Series titles, and another one was added to the list as the club prepares for the 2026 season.
Right-hander Bobby Miller is dealing with a shoulder issue that has prevented him from throwing off a mound, manager Dave Roberts told reporters, including Jack Harris of the California Post. Miller is looking to increase his activity in the coming weeks.
The 26-year-old made just two appearances in the big leagues last season. He spent the majority of the campaign at Triple-A. The Dodgers selected Miller with a first-round pick in the 2020 draft, but injuries and performance concerns have limited him to just 37 games in three seasons with Los Angeles.
Los Angeles Dodgers Get Injury Update on Bobby Miller
Miller looked like a future star in the rotation when he debuted in 2023. The big righty delivered a 3.76 ERA in 22 starts as a rookie. He posted a 23.6% strikeout rate while walking hitters at a 6.3% clip. Miller’s underlying numbers supported his success, as he had a 3.44 xERA and a 3.51 FIP.
The 2024 season got off to a rough start for Miller, then just never improved. He went down almost immediately with shoulder inflammation in April. Miller returned in June after a lengthy stint on the IL. He scuffled to an 8.52 ERA across 13 starts. His strikeout rate ticked down, while his walk rate nearly doubled to 11.6%.
The biggest red flag was the velocity. Miller’s average fastball ticked down from 99.1 mph to 97.8 mph once he made it back to the big leagues. A heater up near 98 mph is still impressive, but the pitch was ineffective. Opponents hit .362 and slugged .681 against Miller’s four-seamer. The pitch accrued a -10 Run Value, per Statcast. Batters posted a massive 53.8% hard-hit rate on the fastball.
Miller shifted to a new role this past season. He made 35 appearances at Triple-A, with more than half of them coming as a reliever. Miller stumbled to a 5.66 ERA across 90.2 innings. He was tagged for seven earned runs across five frames in his two big-league games. Miller did manage a 25% strikeout rate in his brief stint in the majors last year, but ceded a .440 opponent batting average.
Bobby Miller Faces Uphill Battle for Dodgers Roster With Stacked Rotation
An injury is the last thing Miller needed as he attempts to make his case for a roster spot. The fact that he hasn’t made it on the mound yet suggests he’s a long way off from reaching game action. He’s likely headed back to Tulsa once he’s healthy enough to appear in games.
The Dodgers could use up to seven starters in the rotation to open the season. Blake Snell is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, but he’s the only core piece out of the mix. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, and Tyler Glasnow will headline the pitching staff. Roki Sasaki is returning to a starting role after finishing last season in the bullpen. Emmet Sheehan is ticketed for a rotation spot or a long relief role. Youngsters Gavin Stone and River Ryan are pushing for roster spots. It’s a lengthy depth chart for Miller to climb, even after he’s healthy.
Dodgers Get Troubling Injury News on Former First Round Pick