Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES — Tuesday night wasn’t just another strong outing for Dodgers rookie Jack Dreyer—it was a meaningful performance on one of baseball’s most significant days. On Jackie Robinson Day, wearing No. 42 and pitching at Dodger Stadium for the first time on the historic date, Dreyer tossed 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out four in the Dodgers’ 6–2 win over the Rockies.
After the game, Dreyer gave credit to the team around him for setting him up for success.
“First of all, like having such a good defense behind you makes it easy to throw the ball in the zone,” Dreyer said. “And then Will Smith behind the plate just gives you all the confidence in the world. I don’t have to do a lot of shaking. I think he makes good decisions and so I trust him fully—and he called a really good game.”
Dreyer entered in a tight moment and immediately delivered strikeouts to shut down a potential Rockies rally. His calm in high-leverage spots has been a hallmark so far this season.
“We’ve prepared for this as a team and as a bullpen,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s going to come down to can you just execute what you know how to do. You don’t need to go above and beyond. Was able to do that today—but again, it was because of Will Smith calling a great game.”
The performance came on a night that meant more than just baseball.
“You know, the pregame with Kareem was really special—just a really cool experience,” Dreyer said, referring to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s role in the ceremony. “To understand the history behind it, specifically with the Dodgers, is just an unbelievable experience. And so to have a chance to wear 42 is really special. I’m hoping to be able to keep the jersey.”
Though Dreyer’s ERA is now a dazzling 0.75, he kept the focus on the team.
“At the end of the day the stats don’t matter too much,” he said. “We just need to do whatever we can as a bullpen to help the team get the result of a W. To win the series today was really special.”
As for working with Will Smith, Dreyer had nothing but praise: “He’s an unbelievable player. This is my first season being able to work with him, and I’m learning as we go. He’s pushing me to try new things on the mound—and he’ll put me in my place when it needs to happen. I’m just thankful to have such a good leader behind the plate.”
And on what Jackie Robinson’s legacy means to him, Dreyer kept it simple—but powerful:
“I think the biggest thing is, Jackie is kind of the pinnacle of pushing the game in the right direction. No matter who you are or where you come from, he showed that baseball gives you an opportunity to do something at the highest level. So I think just continuing to work in that direction is something really special.”
For Dreyer, Jackie Robinson Day was more than a date on the calendar—it was a chance to reflect, to compete, and to carry the torch forward in Dodger blue.
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