2024 review: Justin Wrobleski

12/23/2024 01:42 PM

Left-hander made his major league debut in 2024 after starting the season in Double-A.

One might be tempted to cringe at how Justin Wrobleski did in 2024. Context is key when analyzing the young left-handed rookie. No one, outside of the wildest hopes of the Wrobleski household, had any expectation that Justin Wrobleski would log serious, competitive innings for the Dodgers in 2024.

Before anyone forgets, Wrobleski spent most of 2023 with High-A Great Lakes after being drafted in 2021. Wrobleski was solidly considered a prospect behind hurlers such as River Ryan, Nick Frasso, Kyle Hurt, and Gavin Stone and on par with Landon Knack.

Wrobleski even participated in the spring breakout game against Angels prospects, where he had four strikeouts in two innings. As such, Wrobleski did not go to South Korea for the Seoul Series.

Wrobleski started his 2024 season in Double-A Tulsa. While there, he pitched 67⅔ innings over 13 starts, going 5-2 with a 3.06 ERA, 1.034 WHIP, and 62 strikeouts. He generally pitched well, and his magnum opus at Tulsa was on Father's Day, where he went seven shutout innings to earn a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Wrobleski struck out 11 in his Triple-A debut against Albuquerque on June 22nd, matching his career high. With Bobby Miller struggling badly and the Dodgers rotation badly needing someone to eat innings, the team pressed Wrobleski into service at the major league level a bit earlier than intended against the Brewers at Dodger Stadium just before the All-Star Break.

Young Master Wrobleski wore number 70 while with the Dodgers. Against the Brewers, he was serviceable in five innings of work. While he did give up two two-run home runs to lose the game, Dave Roberts was generally impressed with Wrobleski's stuff and makeup while making his debut:

"He's really sure of himself, as far as knowing who he is as a person, as a ballplayer. I'm really impressed with the way he carried himself today. The emotions didn't get too much for him. I know his stuff plays here."

Wrobleski made four starts for the Dodgers in July, pitching well enough to win in both Detroit and Houston, only to be let down by a bullpen that suddenly decided to start coughing up five-run leads inopportunely.

Alas, Wrobleski's first stay with the team was cut short with the acquisition of Jack Flaherty from the Tigers. Wrobleski was optioned back to Oklahoma City on July 31st, the first of his five trips back to Oklahoma City. Wrobleski was the only Dodger to achieve "Ross Stripling Diamond" status by getting optioned to the minors the maximum five times.

In August, the Dodgers desperately needed coverage when Tyler Glasnow went down with an injury. The young left-hander finally picked up his first major league win against the Cardinals in St. Louis, going five innings and giving up all of his four runs by homer. Wrobleski was optioned and swapped with Mller the following day.

When the rosters expanded in September, Wrobleski returned to provide coverage when the Dodgers played the Diamondbacks in Phoenix. The start was an unmitigated disaster, where the youngster did provide length after letting the game get out of hand quickly with an eight-run second inning. Wrobleski earned the ignominious distinction of being the seventh Dodger this century to allow ten runs in a start.

Before getting optioned, Wrobleski opined on the worst start of his career:

"It sucks," said Wrobleski, who Roberts said will be optioned Monday for another relief arm. "It's part of being a starting pitcher. It's part of pitching in this league. It's a hard league to pitch in obviously. Just kind of keep grinding."

The Dodgers summoned Wrobleski again about a week later with the season-ending injury to Stone. Perhaps fatigued by all the back-and-forth travel, Wrobleski started to wane in effectiveness in his two innings of work against the Guardians, where he allowed five baserunners but no runs. Roberts opined on Wrobleski's learning by fire:

"He's very green. Talented, but there's a lot to be cleaned up at this level. He had a quick assent to the big leagues. I love the compete, he's not afraid," Roberts said. "The stuff is there, but there's as many balls as there are strikes. He's got to learn to make quality pitches, but he'll learn that in time."

Wrobleski did not return to Los Angeles until September, where he provided coverage for the recently-clinched division champions in Denver against the Rockies. All he needed to do was get outs and not tax the pitching core, which was guaranteed five days of rest with the bye.

Wrobleski delivered by pitching four innings of bulk relief to close out a rout and earn his first career save, the fourth-ever four-inning save in history for the Dodgers at Coors Field. It was Wrobleski's last action of the year, as he was optioned for a fifth and final time the following day.

Wisely, Wrobleski did not make the postseason roster. For the year with the Dodgers, hitters had a .248/.331./.511 slash line against Wrobleski, which is solid, all things considered. Primarily using his fastball, cutter, and curveball, the coaching staff does have plenty of things to build on for Wrobleski going forward.

Wrobleski is green, so there is no doubt about it. But there is one thing that Wrobleski can do now: embrace the memes. To my ear, Wrobleski sounds like Robocop and considering how fearless he was in 2024, why he does not take the mound to the seminal theme is beyond me.

Wrobleski will likely start the 2025 campaign in Triple-A. If recent history is any guide, it will likely not be long before we see Number 70 with the Dodgers again.

2024 particulars

Age: 23

Stats: 1-2, 36 ⅓ IP, 26 K, 16 BB, 5.70 ERA, 6.36 FIP, 6.48 xERA, 1.376 WHIP

Salary: $198,925 (pro-rated share of $740,000 minimum salary)

Game of the year

While it would be tempting to pick his start against the Cardinals or the four-inning save against the Rockies, his best outing of the year was July 27 against the Astros. He went 5⅔ innings, giving up only two runs and getting two strikeouts. It was his longest start of the year, which ended in a no-decision through no fault of his own.

Roster status

Wrobleski has 50 days of major league service time, and two option years remaining.