The Los Angeles Dodgers reinstated Shelby Miller from the bereavement list and designated Adam Kolarek for assignment prior to Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
Miller returns after going on bereavement June 10. MLB roster rules require a player who was put on the bereavement list to be away from the team for a minimum of three days, but no more than seven. Last month, Clayton Kershaw missed four days while on bereavement leave in order to attend funeral services for his mother.
Miller last pitched for the Dodgers in the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. He struck out three batters over two scoreless innings in what was an encouraging performance in another opportunity to pitch in a high-leverage situation.
Overall this season, Miller is 1-0 with one save, a 2.57 ERA and 1.00 WHIP across 24 relief appearances. The Dodgers signed Miller to a one-year, $1.5 million contract during the offseason.
Although it was Andre Jackson who got recalled when Miller went on bereavement, the Dodgers elected to designate Kolarek for assignment instead.
Kolarek pitched 1.1 innings with the Dodgers, striking out two batters on Sunday afternoon. The 34-year-old had appeared in 21 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, posting an 0-3 mark with a 2.18 ERA and 12 strikeouts.
He has pitched in the Majors parts of seven seasons with Tampa Bay (2017-19), L.A. (2019-2020, 2023) and Oakland (2021-22), going a combined 11-4 with a 3.73 ERA and 96 strikeouts.
The move takes Kolarek off the 40-man roster and makes him available for any other team to claim off waivers. Should he clear waivers, Kolarek could elect free agency or opt to stay in the organization and return to the Minor Leagues.
Why Shelby Miller uses Peso Pluma song
Miller has not only become a key contributor out of the bullpen but a welcomed presence in the clubhouse as well. Miller also engrained himself with the Dodgers fanbase by recently switching to use “Ella Baila Sola” by Peso Pluma as his entrance song.
He was urged to do so by Brusdar Graterol, Julio Urías and other teammates, in part because of a resemblance to the Mexican singer also known as ‘Doble P.’
“Graterol and Julio and bunch of the Latin guys call me Peso Pluma,” Miller recently explained in an exclusive interview with DodgerBlue.com.
“So I ended up choosing that as a walk-out song and knew it would probably be a hit with the crowd. I think it’s a great song. I don’t know exactly what it’s saying, I think it’s something about a girl dancing alone, but I like the vibe of it. I like the flow.”
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