Eight Los Angeles Dodgers prospects were named to the Glendale Desert Dogs roster last month for the start of Arizona Fall League play, with the headliner being Bobby Miller, who was drafted by the organization in the first round of the 2020 MLB Draft.
The 22-year-old went a combined 2-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 0.94 WHIP across 17 games (14 starts) for High-A Great Lakes and Double-A Tulsa this year in what marked his first professional season.
Miller’s inclusion on the Desert Dogs roster wasn’t surprising as he only logged 56.1 innings during the regular season due to an oblique strain that sidelined him for part of July and all of August.
Now healthy again, Miller has enjoyed pitching against some of the best Minor League competition in the Arizona Fall League, via Jim Callis of MLB.com:
“I’m feeling great now,” Miller said. “I’m excited to be here with all this great competition here. There’s obviously a lot of good bats at the plate and it’s nice to be pitching against them.”
Despite being encouraged by his health and embracing the opportunity to pitch into the fall, Miller has struggled in five Arizona Fall League games (three starts) thus far. He owns a 9.90 ERA, 1.70 WHIP, .263 batting average against, and 10 strikeouts against seven walks over 10 innings.
Miller, the Dodgers’ No. 4 ranked prospect and the No. 78 in all of baseball according to MLB Pipeline, sports a fastball that reaches 99 mph, wipeout slider and changeup that is showing signs of becoming a quality pitch.
Despite having thrown only 9.1 innings above High-A, Miller potentially could factor into the Dodgers’ plans next season. Not only does he have an advanced feel for pitching, but L.A. could be in need of starting pitching depth depending on where Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw sign this offseason.
Miller focusing on curveball in Arizona Fall League
Miller, who already has three impressive pitches in his arsenal, is working on adding a fourth. After a recent outing in the Arizona Fall League, he revealed a primary focus is on improving his curveball.
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