Los Angeles’ player development appears to be greatly overpriced, as three Dodgers are creating more outrageous spreads.
The Dodgers have earned a stellar reputation for salvaging players from the garbage piles of other clubs and transforming them into major league players who range from serviceable to excellent. They also boast one of baseball’s strongest farm systems, according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.
But it’s possible that the Dodgers won’t maintain this reputation for very long. A few homegrown players have been disappointing everyone lately, giving the impression that LA’s player development is slipping even though the roster is full of players that were either signed out of free agency or acquired and extended.
Three Dodgers are giving the impression that LA’s player development is greatly overpriced.
Bobby Miller
Over the last two seasons, one of the more perplexing trends has been Miller’s difficulties. As part of their rotation carousel, the Dodgers brought him back for another opportunity on April 16 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. He was given another chance on Saturday against the Mets, but this time he was in the bullpen. He allowed a run with three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch in just two innings before being sent down once more.
His solid 2023 rookie campaign (124 1/3 innings pitched, 3.76 ERA) seems like it was ages ago, and he’s not doing well in the minor leagues this year either, with a 4.63 ERA over 35 innings. Even though he is still young, he is decreasing his trade value and making it more difficult for the Dodgers to offer him MLB opportunities.
Max Muncy, 2025
Muncy’s batting average has barely risen above.200 since he began wearing glasses at the plate to treat his astigmatism on the last day of April. He is still sitting on some of the worst slugging numbers of his career, with just three home runs when he had nine this time last year. To be fair, Muncy has improved somewhat since then.
The Dodgers, who signed Muncy to a minor league contract after he was cut loose by the Athletics in 2017, had seen him excel in previous years. Everyone is now wondering where the magic has disappeared to. His exit from the Dodgers at the end of the season appears likely, but he’s putting himself in a difficult situation as the team’s hitting staff apparently continues to attempt to figure out what’s wrong.
Justin Wrobleski
Wrobleski has never appeared to be at ease in the major leagues, in contrast to Miller. In 2025, he has an 8.00 ERA over nine innings after finishing 2024 with a 5.70 ERA over 36 1/3 innings. On May 15, he pitched a solid four innings without scoring against the A’s, although he has already been optioned three times as part of the rotation carousel.
Despite seeming equally shaky in Triple-A, he is still the Dodgers’ tenth-ranked prospect this season. He was promoted to Triple-A on June 22 and to the majors on July 7 of last year, and the Dodgers did move quickly to get him to the majors. His major league difficulties undoubtedly hurt his confidence. With all of the major league pitching staff problems, the Dodgers can’t afford to just let him settle in the minors, but he undoubtedly would have benefited from further Triple-A development.
Over the last two seasons, one of the more perplexing trends has been Miller’s difficulties.
The rotation improves with Bobby Miller’s comeback on April 16. On April 16, as part of their rotation carousel, the Dodgers brought him back for another opportunity after he posted an 8.52 ERA in 13 starts the previous season. He didn’t appear to be getting any better, giving up two home runs and six earned runs. He was given another chance on Saturday against the Mets, but this time he was in the bullpen. He allowed a run with three hits, a walk, and a hit by pitch in just two innings before being sent down once more.
