3 Things Dodgers Fans Need to Know About 2020 First-Round Pick Bobby Miller
By Jerry Trotta
The Los Angeles Dodgers only held one selection on the first night of the 2020 MLB Draft on Wednesday, and they used it to pick Louisville right-hander Bobby Miller at No. 29 overall.
The selection of Miller only adds to the Dodgers' embarrassment of riches, in terms of talented young arms in their farm system. According to MLB.com, four of the club's top six prospects -- Dustin May, Josiah Gray, Brusdar Graterol and Tony Gonsolin -- are pitchers.
Therefore, it's pretty clear that Los Angeles sees a bright future for the Cardinals star. With this in mind, let's highlight three things that Dodgers fans should know about this year's first-rounder.
3. His Fastball is Electric
Who doesn't love a good galvanizing fastball? Miller's heater consistently clocks in at 99 MPH and that's undoubtedly the product of his ferocious windup, which does a really good job at hiding the ball from opposing hitters until its release point. Nabbing a pitcher that boasts one of the best fastballs in the 2020 pool at No. 29 is a job well done for the Dodgers.
2. He Held Batters to a Sub-.200 Average at Louisville
Unlike some pitchers selected on Day 1, Miller had enough time to develop a sound resume during his college career, instead of just a standout summer. Across 41 appearances (25 starts), he finished 15-2 with a 3.38 ERA and 175 strikeouts while holding batters to a .199 batting average. Louisville's schedule isn't anything to write home about, but it's far from a walk in the park. These numbers prove that the Cardinals right-hander flat-out dominated the ACC.
1. He Was Named a Freshman All-American by Three Different Publications
Not many pitchers can say they enjoyed this hot a start to their respective collegiate careers -- Miller finished 6-1 with a 2.97 ERA, 55 strikeouts and a 1.050 WHIP in 66.2 innings of work. That production saw him named a Freshman All-American by D1 Baseball, Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. He was also a Third-Team All-ACC selection as a frosh. The Dodgers got their hands on a potential future stud to close out the first round of the 2020 Draft.