The Dodgers announced that Bobby Miller has been activated from the 60-day injured list. In corresponding moves for the 28-man and 40-man rosters, right-hander Kyle Hurt was optioned to Triple-A and outfielder Alek Thomas was designated for assignment. The California Post’s Jack Harris was among the reporters yesterday who noted that Miller had a locker in the Dodgers’ clubhouse, hinting that the right-hander was close to a return.
Miller’s first appearance will mark his 2026 debut, and his third game in the big leagues since Opening Day 2024. Once one of the more highly-touted pitching prospects in baseball, Miller posted a 3.76 ERA over 22 starts and 124 1/3 innings in his rookie season, but he battled shoulder problems in 2024 while struggling to an 8.52 ERA in 56 innings (13 starts).
The 2025 campaign saw Miller log just five innings of 12.60 ERA ball in the majors. Things continued to go off the rails in the minors as Miller posted a 5.66 ERA and an ugly 14.9% walk rate, plus a so-so 20.3% strikeout rate. The right-hander was moved to the bullpen in the second half of the 2025 season without much improvement in performance. Miller was then shelved again due to shoulder soreness that arose this spring, resulting in a 60-day IL placement that has sidelined him for the entirety of the Dodgers’ season.
Returning to Triple-A action at the start of August, Miller has a 3.86 ERA, 7.3% walk rate, and 30.9% strikeout rate over seven appearances and 14 games for Albuquerque. Miller has increased his curveball usage while throwing his slider much less often, and the results seem to be working out. If Miller can carry any of this form into his latest MLB assignment, Los Angeles suddenly has another intriguing relief arm to take into the postseason.
Miller’s ability to throw multiple innings adds to the revolving door that is the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Eric Lauer and Roki Sasaki are on the 15-day IL and Shohei Ohtani remains sidelined from pitching, leaving L.A. with four regular starters in what was once a six-man rotation. Manager Dave Roberts told MLB.com’s Sonja Chen and other reporters that Justin Wrobleski will work as at least a bulk pitcher on Sunday, while a starter will be called up for Monday’s game.
In other pitching news, Roberts said Edwin Diaz will begin a minor league rehab assignment on Sunday. The former All-Star closer has an ungainly 11.85 ERA over only 13 2/3 innings this season, as Diaz has barely pitched due to two IL stints — a 60-day IL visit following surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow, and his ongoing IL stint (since August 18) due to neck inflammation. Roberts had previously announced that Diaz would pitch in lower-leverage roles once he returns to the active roster, and it stands to reason that Diaz might get a slightly longer rehab assignment than usual so the Dodgers can monitor his performance as well as his health.
Thomas was acquired in a trade with the Diamondbacks in May, but he didn’t get any Major League time with the Dodgers until August 22, after regular center fielder Andy Pages fractured his hand. Thomas hit only .211/.250/.263 over his seven games and 20 plate appearances in Dodger Blue, and was optioned to Triple-A on September 1.
For the season as a whole, Thomas has hit .186/.227/.327 over 120 PA with Los Angeles and Arizona. Thomas is another former star prospect who has yet to click at the MLB level, though his speed and defense earned him plenty of playing time over parts of five seasons while the D’Backs waited for a breakout. This past top-prospect pedigree and the fact that Thomas is still only 26 could get him some interest on the waiver wire, and he has only around $300K remaining on his 2026 salary.
Thomas is out of minor league options and thus must be DFA’ed and exposed to waivers before he can be outrighted. Since Thomas has more than three years of big league service time, he has the right to decline an outright assignment and become a free agent.