By taking players from the scrap heaps of other teams and transforming them into major league players that are somewhere between serviceable and excellent, the Dodgers have established a stellar reputation for being able to turn coal into diamonds.
According to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America, they also boast one of the greatest farm systems in baseball.
The Dodgers might not be able to maintain this image for very long, though. Even if the roster is full of players who were either signed out of free agency or acquired and extended, there are a few homegrown players who have recently let everyone down and given the impression that LA’s player development is slipping.
Three Dodgers who appear to be overvaluing LA’s player development
Miller, Bobby
One of the more perplexing things over the last two seasons has been Miller’s difficulties. The Dodgers summoned him back for another opportunity on April 16 as part of their rotation carousel after he had posted an 8.52 ERA in 13 starts the previous season.
He didn’t appear to be getting any better, allowing two home runs and six earned runs. On Saturday, he was given another opportunity, this time in the bullpen against the Mets. In just two innings, he gave up a run with three singles, a walk, and a hit by pitch before being sent down once more.
It seems like long ago that he had a nice rookie season in 2023 (124 1/3 innings pitched, 3.76 ERA), and he is not looking well in the minor leagues this year either, with a 4.63 ERA over 35 innings. Although he is still young, he is decreasing his trade value and making it more difficult for the Dodgers to provide him major league opportunities.
Max Muncy in 2025
Although Muncy has improved somewhat since the end of April, when he began wearing glasses at the plate to treat his astigmatism, he has only just managed to push his batting average above .200 and is still sitting on some of his worst slugging numbers ever; he has only hit three home runs, compared to nine this time last year.
After being cut loose by the Athletics in 2017, Muncy signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers, who have seen him flourish in previous years. He’s now leaving everyone wondering where the magic has disappeared to. He’s putting himself in a difficult situation and making it appear as though he will leave the Dodgers at the conclusion of the season, but the hitting staff is probably still trying to figure out what’s wrong.
Wrobleski, Justin
In contrast to Miller, Wrobleski has never appeared at ease in the major leagues. With an 8.00 ERA over nine innings in 2025, he finished 2024 with a 5.70 ERA over 36 1/3 innings. Despite pitching a solid, scoreless four innings against the A’s on May 15, he has already been optioned three times as part of the rotation carousel.
Although he remains the Dodgers’ tenth-ranked prospect this season, he has shown just as much unsteadiness in Triple-A. Last year, the Dodgers accelerated his ascent to the major leagues, promoting him to Triple-A on June 22 and to the majors on July 7.
His major league setbacks undoubtedly boosted his self-esteem. Given the number of injuries to the main league pitching staff, the Dodgers cannot afford to simply let him settle in the lower leagues, but he most likely would have benefited from extra Triple-A development.
