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Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Bobby Miller spoke to reporters Saturday for the first time since taking a 105.5 mph line drive to his head in the Dodgers’ Cactus League opener. He said he’s dealing with a headache and is a little drowsy, but is overall doing very well.
“God is great,” Miller said. “He was watching me right there.”
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Miller said getting hit with a comebacker like that has never happened before and it was always a fear of his, but now he’s watched the video “probably 100 hundred times.”
He also gave an update on his next steps.
“Just gotta pass some steps. It’s just going off of symptoms from here on out for when I can return and get back on the field, and hopefully that’s soon,” Miller said.
“I feel like I can be out there pretty soon.”
Miller entered camp in competition for the No. 5 spot in the Dodgers starting rotation. He was hoping to bounce back after a sophomore slump that booted him back to the minor leagues and kept him off the postseason roster.
Miller, who will turn 26 in April, shined in his rookie season with the Dodgers. He logged a 3.76 ERA while striking out 119 batters across 22 starts in 2023.
Miller’s performance on the mound declined in his second season as he posted an 8.52 ERA across 13 starts. However, the right-hander told Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain earlier this week — and before the freak accident — that he was confident in his ability to bounce back after a rough 2024 season.
“I’m feeling better than I have in any other spring training,” Miller said to Dodgers Nation at Camelback Ranch earlier this week. “This, so far, has been my best spring and best offseason of any offseason I’ve had in pro ball so far.”
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The Dodgers are planning to initially work with a five-man rotation but will add a sixth spot when Shohei Ohtani is ready to pitch. Starting pitchers Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow will fill the first four spots.
Thus, Miller is competing with Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May for the final spot.
“I got confidence in myself that I can be a part of that rotation the whole year,” Miller said to McKain before the injury. “There’s gonna be competition or whatever. But I’m always rooting for everybody in this locker room, no matter what.”
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Last season, the Dodgers optioned Miller in July after a long stretch of unproductive innings. Los Angeles recalled Miller in August but ultimately sent him back to Triple-A after he failed to show improvement.
Miller said he plans to continue working hard in hopes of earning the last rotation spot.
“Just got to do what I’m supposed to do, keep working hard, and as long as I can look myself in the mirror and say I did everything I was supposed to do and more, I can’t be mad at myself,” Miller said to McKain prior to the accident.
Unfortunately for Miller, this freak injury will set him back a bit in the competition. However, it’s clear he avoided anything serious, and will get back to competing for the final rotation spot as soon as possible.
Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
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