As the Los Angeles Dodgers went skidding into the All-Star break, they did so without Bobby Miller on their active roster.
Miller struggled in a loss to the Philadelphia Phillies on July 9 and was optioned to the Minor Leagues one day after allowing a career-worst nine runs. He didn’t immediately join an affiliate but instead made his way to Camelback Ranch in order to work with the Dodgers’ player development staff and pitching coaches.
Miller has since reported to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and took the mound Saturday night to face the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers affiliate).
He completed five scoreless innings while allowing four hits and issuing a career-high four walks. Miller finished with with four strikeouts and worked his way through traffic by holding the Express 0-for-6 with a runner on base.
The only time Miller faced multiple runners on was in the fourth inning, when the Express loaded the bases on a leadoff single and walks with none and two outs, respectively. Miller kept the game scoreless by inducing an inning-ending double play.
He threw 80 pitches in the outing, but only 45 for strike (56%). The start was Miller’s first true Minor League game since pitching for Oklahoma City on May 17, 2023.
The 25-year-old did spend time with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and the Oklahoma City Baseball Club earlier this season, but for a rehab assignment that consisted of four starts.
When will Bobby Miller come back?
At the time the Dodgers demoted Miller, manager Dave Roberts said the team did not have any timeline or set number of starts in mind before considering recalling their former heralded prospect.
“I think that’s to be determined,” Roberts reiterated on Saturday. “A lot of it is on him and how he feels and how he’s performing.
“From what I hear, the body is moving great, more free. Mentally, he feels really in a good spot. There’s no pitch limit relative to what he’s done up until this point. I expect the velocity to tick up. I expect the command to be better, and I expect better performance, albeit it’s one outing.
“But I still think that kind of looking at Bobby, I’m looking forward to that.”
With fast-rising Dodgers prospect River Ryan lined up for his MLB debut on Monday, Tyler Glasnow returning Wednesday and Clayton Kershaw making his 2024 debut on Thursday, it appears Miller is poised to remain with Oklahoma City for at least one more start.
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