Bobby Miller enjoyed a solid rookie campaign for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023 but was unable to replicate that success last year.
The former first-round draft pick went just 2-4 with an 8.52 ERA, 6.98 FIP and 1.77 WHIP in 56 innings over 13 starts at the Major League level. Miller dealt with multiple injuries throughout the 2024 season and struggled to find any consistency.
As Miller looks for a fresh start, he has gravitated to Blake Snell, who signed a five-year, $182 million contract with the Dodgers during the offseason. The two have spent a lot of time together at Camelback Ranch and are lockermates in the clubhouse.
Snell downplayed the notion that he has emerged as a mentor to Miller and said they are just working on their respective games, via Sonja Chen of MLB.com:
“Y’all are saying I’m taking him under my wing,” Snell said. “We’re just friends, learning. We’re just learning. I wouldn’t say I’m a mentor. We’re friends.”
Snell isn’t concerned with the past and encouraged Miller to focus on the upcoming season:
“I don’t live in the past,” Snell said. “He shouldn’t either. … I don’t ask him what he did last year because I don’t care. I think what he’s going to do is way more important than what happened. Learn from it, get better, whatever. It was going bad, and then this year is this year. Be ready for it.”
Although he disputed the idea that he has taken Miller under his wing, Snell is perhaps the best pitcher for the 25-year-old to try to emulate.
Like Miller, Snell got off to a slow start with the San Francisco Giants last season due to signing late and not having a full Spring Training to build up.
However, Snell was able to redeem himself and posted an MLB-best 1.45 ERA after the All-Star break. He finished 5-3 with a 3.12 ERA, 2.43 FIP and 1.05 WHIP in 20 starts while posting a 24.2% strikeout to walk ratio.
Snell can draw from that experience and provide guidance to Miller as he attempts to bounce back himself in 2025.
Bobby Miller competing for Dodgers rotation spot
While the Dodgers figure to break camp with Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Roki Sasaki and Tyler Glasnow as part of their starting rotation, the final spot could come down to a trio of pitchers.
The group includes Miller, who is competing with the likes of Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May this spring. May presumably has the upper edge as the Dodgers cannot option him to the Minors without his consent due to accruing more than five years of Major League service time.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
