Littered across the Los Angeles Dodgers roster are pitchers who have had Tommy John surgery and while some respond better to going under the knife than others, left-hander Justin Wrobleski has made quite the comeback.
Wrobleski, the Dodgers’ 11th-round selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, had a unique college journey that saw him pitch for three different schools. Wrobleski was drafted by the Dodgers with the organization knowing that he would need recovery time from Tommy John surgery.
However, it’s difficult to imagine many expected him to make such a quick return to the mound. The 21-year-old southpaw recently threw his first bullpen session of Minor League Spring Training at Camelback Ranch, a mere 11 months removed from the operation.
Wrobleski posted video to his personal Instagram, demonstrating clean mechanics and a maximum effort bullpen session.
Wrobleski began his collegiate career in 2019 with the Clemson Tigers, but transferred to State College of Florida the following season. With Clemson, he struggled to the tune of a 10.38 ERA over 10 appearances, but did fare extremely well against opposing left-handed hitters as they batted just .052.
Against junior college hitters in 2020, Wrobleski pitched just 18.2 innings but had 27 strikeouts and a 2.89 ERA. After his sophomore season, Wrobleski transferred to Oklahoma State, where he threw 40.2 innings.
The left-hander had modest success for the Cowboys, striking out 50 batters while walking 26.
Wrobleski does not throw particularly hard, with reports indicating his fastball sits at 92 mph. However, it’s his slider that scouts have deemed a plus-pitch in the Majors and a changeup is already considered above average.
As practically a three-pitch pitcher, Wrobleski has all the makings of a solid bullpen arm who can dominate left-handed batters.
Dodgers prospect Bobby Miller enjoying Spring Training
Bobby Miller, one of the fastest rising prospects in the sport, has shown immense potential in his early professional career with the Dodgers. There’s an outside chance he makes the Majors in 2022 as a bullpen piece, similar to the way Dustin May and Walker Buehler were handled by the organization.
Miller discussed how great of a time he is having at Spring Training this year as he gets one of the first normal experiences he has had as a professional.
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
