Justin Wrobleski has turned into one of the Dodgers’ biggest surprises this season, and now he’s got a nickname to match the buzz.
Pedro Martínez, the Hall of Fame right-hander, has started calling Wrobleski “Shark,” a label the lefty says landed the right way. Wrobleski talked about it on Dodger Talk with David Vassegh, and he made it clear the attention from Martínez meant a lot.
“You know, Miggy really likes it. He thought it was really funny.
So he’s been running around asking everybody where the shark is. So that’s been pretty funny.
“But in all seriousness, anytime you can even be talked about by a guy like Pedro, it’s super cool. I’ve been a big fan of his.
His commentary stuff is cool and obviously I go back and watch some of his outings whenever I get a chance. He was elite, arguably one of the best, if not the best, pitcher of all-time.
In an era where it was really hard to pitch, he dominated.
“It’s super cool. The nickname is funny. Whatever people want to run with, they can run with.”
Wrobleski’s rise has been one of the more interesting developments in the Dodgers’ season. He came into the year viewed more as a swingman, but he’s pitched at an All-Star level and given Los Angeles real stability.
The numbers back up the breakout. Wrobleski has logged 86.1 innings across 13 starts and one relief appearance, and he’s carrying a 2.71 ERA overall. As a starter, he’s been even sharper, posting a 2.51 ERA.
He’s doing it in a way that fits his own game. Instead of chasing strikeouts, Wrobleski has leaned into soft contact and quick outs, averaging about six innings per start while striking out 5.53 hitters per nine and walking only 1.88 per nine.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has backed him for All-Star consideration, and Wrobleski is sitting near the top of the National League pitching candidate list.
He also got some useful perspective from Clayton Kershaw last season, advice he took from a pitcher whose style in the final stages of his career had a lot in common with his own.
Now Wrobleski has become a key part of the Dodgers’ rotation, and the team could lean on him in a big way out of the bullpen in October.
He’s also built his own way of measuring success. While many pitcher stats today revolve around strikeouts, home runs and walks, Wrobleski created his own stat to evaluate how he’s throwing. He says it fits the way he learns, and it’s made it easier for him to review each start.
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