The Dodgers pitcher Bobby Miller was just about to face a career-ending injury! Yes, it was a close call when he took a direct hit of a 106MPH ball from the batsman. The widely-circulated video shows how he fell to the ground while taking the hit, creating a sense of anxiety among the players and fans on the ground. The direct hit was enough to break his jaws!

Well, nothing serious for now, considering what the post-match updates are. Miller seems to be in better condition now, and his ability to leave the game on his own was a huge sigh of relief for all. Indeed, the tough persona of Bobby Miller became evident—taking a brutal hit and standing tall! So, is Miller ready to start in the next game, and what does this injury mean to the overall starting rotation of the Dodgers?

A good hit to injure Bobby Miller 

The unwarranted incident happened during the Cactus League opener between the Dodgers and Cubs. Bobby Miller was pitching for the Dodgers in the third inning of the game and threw a fastball to Cubs slugger Michael Busch, which got hit back at 106MPH! The 2-1 curveball from Busch came directly to Miller, and it was just a fraction of a second for him to dodge. The way Miller went to the ground on both knees was terrifying enough, considering the impact of the hit. Thankfully, Miller was able to leave the game on his own with a big Dodgers crowd cheering him on. “It’s always terrifying. Thankfully, he seemed like he was OK,” said Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy. 

A huge sigh of relief after these words that Miller seems to be fine now. However, as per Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, Bobby Miller will be in concussion protocol. “We’ll keep an eye on him tonight. Very scary moment, but it was good to see him walk off the field,” said Roberts. Well, considering the impact of the hit, it would be a better option to make Miller go through a proper check before getting back to action. What seems more surprising is how Miller was in a light mood after taking the hit! Muncy added, “When the trainer came out and asked him if he knew where he was at, he made a little joke about hanging a curveball.” All hail to the sporting spirit of Miller!

Competition for the no. 5 starting spot 

Bobby Miller is expected to be back after a few games, and the injury is not very serious as of now. What does it mean for the Dodgers? Last year, Miller made only 13 total starts for the Dodgers, with a 2–4 record and an 8.52 ERA with 30 walks. He got promoted from the minors, but his early struggle made him back to the base again. As per Dodgers Nation, Miller is all set for the No. 5 starting spot for the Dodgers this year, but is there any chance for him to get into the loaded pitching squad of the Dodgers?

While the star-studded pitching rotation for the Dodgers is yet to be finalized, Roki Sasaki, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Blake Snell are the four confirmed pitchers. The fifth position will be contended between Tony Gonsolin and Dustin May, with Bobby Miller now joining the contention. While last year’s performance of Miller is nothing to boast about, he can still be a formidable force behind the top five. Shohei Ohtani is still not going to pitch, and Miller can be a long-term solution to the rotation depth. 

The tough persona of Bobby Miller is what caught everyone’s attention and is something that can come in handy for the Dodgers during high-leverage situations. 

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