Brandon League pitching with a heavy heart

DENVER — As Brandon League tries to regain the form that earned him a $22.5-million contract from the Dodgers, something is weighing on his mind.

He was a friend of Justin Miller, the former major league reliever who was found dead at his Florida home last week.

“I had no clue anything was happening health-wise, so it was a bit of a shock,” League said.

When League and Miller were prospects in the Toronto Blue Jays’ farm system, they both lived in Florida.

“We’d see each other a lot and just hang out,” League said.

The two heavily tattooed players shared the same tattoo artist. Sometimes, they visited the tattoo parlor together.

“I’m going to remember his laugh and how he was able to make people smile,” League said. “You look at him and he’s covered in tattoos, but he had the biggest heart. He always wanted to help people, whether it was on the field, off the field.”

League said he and Miller remained in touch over the years. Miller pitched for the Dodgers in 2010. He retired after the 2011 season.

League learned of Miller’s death from a Blue Jays minor league clubhouse attendant.

“I hadn’t heard from him in years,” League said. “He said, ‘Give me a call when you can.’ The last thing I thought was that he was going to tell me news about Justin.”

As League tries to process losing a 35-year-old friend, he is attempting to fix the mechanical problems he believes have contributed to his 6.37 earned-run average. His poor form continued Thursday, as he was charged with two runs and allowed an inherited runner to score while recording only one out.

Whether he pitches in a game or not, League said he throws in the bullpen every day. He also speaks frequently with Ken Howell, the Dodgers’ assistant pitching coach who is away from the team dealing with health issues. Howell is widely credited for turning around League’s season last year.

League has been the target of boos at Dodger Stadium. He doesn’t like it but understands the frustration of the fans.

“The fans have their opinions,” League said. “I know personally how I’m performing. I would have booed myself. It comes with the territory. With relief pitching, it’s that one inning or less. That’s what you’re remembered for.”

Marmol to the minors

Recently acquired reliever Carlos Marmol has accepted an assignment to triple-A Albuquerque.

The concession was the latest Marmol made to join the Dodgers, who acquired him in a trade with the Chicago Cubs this week.

Marmol, who was designated for assignment by the Cubs last week, waived his limited no-trade clause to facilitate the deal. He then consented to being put on outright waivers, a necessary step for him to be sent to the minors. Upon clearing waivers, he agreed to go to Albuquerque. As a player who broke into the major leagues in 2006, Marmol had enough major league service time to refuse a minor league assignment.

Marmol is at the Dodgers’ spring-training complex in Arizona working with minor league pitching coordinator Rafael Chaves. After a few days, he will report to Albuquerque.

The Dodgers view Marmol as a reclamation project. He posted a 5.86 ERA in 31 games with the Cubs.

dylan.hernandez@latimes.com

Twitter: @dylanohernandez