Dodgers Interview: Justin Wrobleski Embraces the Moment, Reflects on Growth After Five-Inning Gem
"I was fired up."
LOS ANGELES — Dodgers rookie left-hander Justin Wrobleski stepped up in a big way Wednesday night, tossing five innings of long relief against the Padres and nearly sealing the win himself—before Will Smith’s walk-off home run made it official.
After the game, Wrobleski spoke about his performance, the evolution of his mechanics, and what it meant to be trusted with such a high-leverage assignment.
“I was fired up that they let me go back out there, first off,” he said. “Obviously sucks to give up the two runs there and not just win the game right there. But it was great.”
Wrobleski entered in the fifth inning and cruised into the ninth before the Padres tied the game with a couple of well-placed hits and an error behind him. Still, he battled through the frame and gave the Dodgers a chance to win—something he clearly took pride in.
“I felt good out there. I felt comfortable. It was fun,” he said, flashing a smile. “There was another possible opportunity for me to go out there last night too, if Tanner [Scott] had to go early. So I was kind of excited then, but tonight was the one.”
Asked what’s clicked for him recently, Wrobleski credited both mental focus and a return to fundamentals. “I think just getting back to what I’m good at. Just going out there, attacking the zone, getting ahead of guys. Getting that first pitch over, getting two of the first three over. Once you’re ahead in the count, you’ve got a much better chance.”
Those results, he explained, were built on mechanical adjustments made at Triple-A just before his most recent call-up. “It’s just kind of timed me up a little more and simplified everything. So it’s been great.”
The increased velocity hasn’t gone unnoticed either. “Last year I think my average fastball was probably around 95. This year it’s ticked up a bit. A lot of that’s due to mechanics, but also just being better timed up and more in sync with my delivery.”
Wrobleski has added more depth to his repertoire this season, leaning more heavily on his sinker. “It’s always been a pitch I had, but we kind of changed the grip this year to make it more of a stock throw instead of something I had to manipulate. It’s not going to pop off the page metrically, but off my fastball, it makes sense. And I’ve been getting a lot of weird takes and ground balls with it, so I just kept throwing it.”
That sinker-heavy approach, paired with a cutter he started working on during last year’s playoff prep, has helped him keep hitters guessing. “I kind of found the cutter late in the year, and liked the shape, got it up to 95. Having fastball options helps me a lot.”
Even after giving up the game-tying runs in the ninth, Wrobleski was ready to go back out for the tenth—until Will Smith ended things with a no-doubt shot to right-center.
“Obviously I’m fired up because we won the game. That’s first and foremost,” Wrobleski said. “And it’s great that Will obviously comes up there and hits a bomb—because why not? I was sitting there ready to go out for that next inning. So Will hits a homer, I guess my night’s done, our night’s done, we win the game. All good.”
Wrobleski, 2–2 on the year, continues to impress in his role as a multi-inning weapon for Dave Roberts, especially as the Dodgers navigate a tough stretch of games with a taxed bullpen. “Anytime you can go up 3–0 on a team like this, or even have a chance to sweep, it’s huge. Every win matters.”
Asked if he’s trying to follow in the footsteps of fellow rookies like Ben Casparius and Jack Dreyer, who’ve also taken advantage of their opportunities, Wrobleski kept the focus internal.
“For me it’s just about, regardless of where I’m at, making sure I’m taking every opportunity to get better. If I focus on the things I can control to make me better, that puts the team in the best spot—and me in the best spot.”
He also emphasized how much he’s learning from veterans in the clubhouse.
“Pretty much everybody I’ve learned something from—Ben and Jack, Kirby, Kersh, Yama. Just picking their brains, seeing how they think about pitching. Some stuff doesn’t work for you, and other things you hear, you’re like, ‘That’s really smart.’”
With performances like Wednesday’s, Wrobleski is doing more than listening—he’s applying what he’s learned, and making a name for himself in a deep, talented Dodgers staff.
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