Justin Wrobleski has been a pleasant surprise for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, as he’s pitched at an All-Star level despite being viewed as more of a swingman coming into the year.
Hall of Fame pitcher Pedro Martínez has taken note of Wrobleski’s brilliance on the mound and has given him a new nickname, “Shark.”
Wrobleski shared his thoughts on the nickname and what it means to be recognized by one of the best pitchers in MLB history during an appearance on Dodger Talk with David Vassegh.
“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 has thrown 86.1 innings this season across 13 starts and one appearance out of the bullpen. He’s posted a 2.71 ERA in total, but he’s been even better as a starter with a 2.51 ERA.
The left-hander has received All-Star support from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, and he is near the top of the list of candidates in a crowded National League pitching field.
The 25-year-old has found success pitching in an old-school way, focusing more on getting soft contact and quick outs, rather than trying to rack up strikeouts. With that, he has averaged roughly six innings per start while striking out just 5.53 hitters per nine, but only walking 1.88 per nine.
Wrobleski took advice from Clayton Kershaw last season, who was similar as a pitcher in a lot of ways to Wrobleski during the final parts of his career.
The Shark has now become an integral part of the Dodgers’ rotation, and he’s someone who could play a major role out of their bullpen come October.
Justin Wrobleski created his own stat
Although most modern stats to evaluate pitchers focus on pure dominance with strikeout numbers while limiting home runs and walks, Wrobleski developed a unique approach to tracking his performances and came up with his own stat.
Wrobleski says that system works much better for his style of learning, and it’s made self-scouting much easier after each start.
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