Justin Wrobleski Made Major Changes Before Breakout Outing

Apr 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) thorws New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) out at first in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski went through a series of changes before his eight-inning shutout of the New York Mets that propelled him forward.

Wrobleski was a pitcher who yo-yoed between the major and minor leagues in 2025, serving as a versatile arm who could provide coverage as a starter and reliever amid a run of injuries.

However, once the rotation got healthy, he settled into a long-relief role, one he would carry into the postseason, where he really showcased his pitching ability.

Entering 2026, manager Dave Roberts and the Dodgers organization were high on Wrobleski, a 25-year-old pitcher who had an impressive World Series Game 7 relief stint.

Apr 13, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski (70) throws New York Mets center fielder Tyrone Taylor (28) out at first in the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

As a result of his good Spring Training performance and injuries to Blake Snell, Wrobleski was given a starter role to start the season, while also moonlighting as a piggyback pitcher for Roki Sasaki if needed.

On Tuesday, Wrobleski had a breakout against the New York Mets, showing he could get outs despite his stuff not being great.

He needed only 90 pitches to get through eight innings against the Mets, allowing only two hits and no walks.

However, things were not always so great for Wrobleski, who was fighting for his status as a major league player for a long time.

Wrobleski’s rough path to the majors

Wrobleski had a rough 2024 when he got his first taste of major league playing time, with a 5.70 ERA over 36.1 innings. He was valued at -0.3 bWAR during his rookie stint, but the organization believed in him to give him another shot in 2025.

However, on April 8, 2025, he allowed eight runs to the Washington Nationals, resulting in an immediate demotion to Triple-A.

He was at a crossroads after that moment, either sticking with what got him to have success in the minor leagues or uprooting his delivery and mechanics.

“It was just kind of like, this isn’t really working the way I would want it to,” Wrobleski said. “And I just feel like my ceiling’s not where I want it to be.”

He overhauled his delivery with Oklahoma City pitching coach David Anderson, which led to his success in the second half of 2025.

“I was like, alright, this works,” Wrobleski said. “But I trust our guys, I trust our internal development, I trust DA. He’s one of the best pitching coaches I’ve ever had, so I really, really trust him and his opinions.”

Dave Roberets celebrates Wrobleski’s success

Wrobleski’s willingness to make adjustments in the midst of such a crucial period of play has led to respect from his peers, including the Dodgers’ manager.

“He was at a crossroads and chose a hard path to go down there and self reflect and gain some confidence and bring it back here,” Roberts said.

“There is talent but there is also what’s practical, what plays at the big league level, and that is strike throwing, being able to sequence, miss barrels, put it on the ground, create soft contact, work with efficiency. Those are things that help a championship team win games. And he has a really good grasp of that.”

Now Wrobleski is an out machine who can be counted upon, and his flexibility in his roles makes him versatile, something that the Dodgers love.