Justin Wrobleski is a left-handed pitcher in the Dodgers organization that is flying a touch under the radar, and that’s just the way he likes it. Wrobo, as he is better known, has a big fastball, exceptionally good secondary pitches, and a mentality that was made to come right at hitters.

He’s very good and is just getting started, so stay tuned, because he’s an Underdog You Need to Know.

Small Town, Big Talent

Wrobleski grew up in a smaller area of the world about an hour North of Atlanta in a place called Canton, Georgia. His High School, Sequoyah, and the area around it is growing, but has a smaller feel to it, and hasn’t always been a perennial power. 

The first chapter of his underdog story began when he helped his Alma Mater reach the State Playoffs during his Senior year, a year that Wrobo draws a lot of pride from. While many draft picks as talented as Wrobo can boast of being products of powerhouse programs that hand-pick their players and, in essence, assemble all-star teams, Sequoyah was homegrown, and original, and that just makes it mean more. 

I think going to Sequoyah was a really good thing for me because it wasn’t a traditional powerhouse. Where I live is getting bigger, but when I was there it was a little bit smaller. I wouldn’t say it’s super small and we made the state playoffs one year while I was there and that made it that much sweeter when we made it my Senior year. 

Wrobleski’s Senior year at Sequoyah was special in more ways than just one though, because, while his team was very good, individually his accomplishments stood out. He was Honorable Mention All-State, First Team All-County, and a First Team All-Region Team MVP. As a result, he was drafted in the 36th Round coming out of High School, an offer he turned down, however, to pursue a College career. 

Wrobleski landed at Clemson and got mound time as a True Freshman, but eventually decided to transfer to State College of Florida in Bradenton for his Sophomore year and had a very good shortened 2020 season as a Manatee. 

After his year at SCF, Wrobleski transferred to Oklahoma State where he was immediately put in the weekend rotation in 2021, his third and final Collegiate season.

He had some big outings at OSU, including performances against Vanderbilt, TCU, and Texas Tech, but suffered a season-ending elbow injury in mid-April that eventually turned into Tommy John Surgery. 

Drafted

It speaks to the talent that Wrobleski has when considering that he was recovering from Tommy John surgery, had thrown just 53.2 Division I innings, and just 72.1 innings total in College when the Dodgers drafted him in the 11th Round of the 2021 Draft. His ERAs at Clemson and OSU didn’t jump off the page either, so the Dodgers had to do their homework to discover the abilities of this talented lefty, and invest in him as they have. 

The Dodgers are extremely good at identifying talent, and, aren’t afraid to pull the trigger on guys like Wrobo who are “under the radar” due to injury. Especially when that injury is “Tommy John” considering the considerable amount of pitchers in the organization who the Dodgers have helped overcome and make better on the other side.

As Wrobleski distances himself from his Tommy John Surgery and continues to build pitch count, he will start turning heads and will continue to use the “underdog” role as motivation. 

I love it because I feel like I’ve been in that position for a long time because where I went to High School I was overlooked for all of the All-American stuff in High School and that fuels me. I like being the underdog and I don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t because that’s just how it’s kind of always been for me because I’m not the big 6’5 or 6’6 guy that looks crazy. It’s something I think about when I’m working out and throwing my bullpens, and maybe I’m not always consciously thinking about it, but it definitely helps me get through hard times in the gym or when I don’t want to train and things like that. 

Feature Cut

Wrobleski may not be 6’5 or 6’6 but he definitely packs a punch in his 6’1 frame. When healthy, his fastball can sit as high as 93-95, and, as he distances himself from his Tommy John Surgery, could project higher than that, in my opinion. 

Keep in mind that he was hit by a car just before he went to Clemson, broke his jaw at SCF, then had to shut down his last year in College at OSU in April. So, he’s never been able to have an extended period of time to develop in one place, and has, instead, had to endure quite a few stops and starts, especially when you consider that the 2020 College season was shut down after just a few weeks into the season as well.

So, if you’re not totally familiar with his name, that is why, but, just know, his stuff is big and getting bigger by the day.

Here’s what he had to say about where his stuff is at right now.

I think my stuff is actually probably in the best place it’s been since surgery. The Curveball was my best pitch in College but, after surgery, finding the feel of that curveball was tough, and I actually didn’t get it back until instructs. 

Wrobleski on his slider

I made some tweaks to my slider to make it a little bigger which I’m excited about. It’s not a pitch I throw a ton, but it’s a pitch I’ll use, especially to left-handers.

Wrobo went on to talk about his fastball

My fastball is probably a tick better right now. I’ve only thrown it in a couple of side sessions here in the off-season, but I think it’s trending in the right direction and I’m starting to spin it better and ride it at the top of the zone more. So, I’m really happy about that and I think it’s also due to some mechanical changes I made frontside wise.

On his cutter and changeup

The cutter is another one that I finally figured out at instructs and that makes sense because that was technically the 6th week of my season so that was good. The Changeup has always been kind of a staple for me but it’s something I can dump in the zone whenever I need to or something that I can get a strikeout to a right-hander that’s maybe a little out front. 

On his overall arsenal

I’m really excited to recreate my overall arsenal because in High School I was a 2 seam guy throwing this weird slurve thing, so my stuff has come a long way and I’m super excited to see where it’s gonna go and where it’s gonna be. But, you never know until you show up to Spring Training and you throw your first game what your stuff is gonna be. 

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, Wrobleski has big stuff but has had a bunch of stops and starts, so he’s never been able to gain momentum. That is getting ready to change, however, as he continues to distance himself from his Tommy John surgery. 

This next season will be used to build up his pitch count and get all the proper “feels” back in game-time situations, and as long as he can stay healthy, he is going to start turning heads with his “stuff”. He’s a guy that is going to come right at hitters, with good velo and with multiple pitches that he can land for strikes. And, he has always dominated lefties, so there is no reason to think that won’t continue.

In closing, I would like to thank Justin for joining Dodgers Daily and say that having seen him multiple times at OSU, I was very excited when the Dodgers picked him up. He has a very high ceiling and when matched with the instruction in this organization, his future is bright, and one that Dodgers Daily can’t wait to cover. 

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