In a season where the Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt with injuries to key pitchers, 26-year-old left-hander Justin Wrobleski has been a bright spot in the lineup. 

Because of his efforts this season, Wrobleski is in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park, where the 2026 MLB All-Star Game is set to take place on Tuesday, as a member of the National League All-Star team. 

However, it was not an easy path for Wrobleski.

In a recent interview with Foul Territory TV, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who is serving as the manager of the National League team for the second-straight season, recalled an April 8, 2025, outing by Wrobleski against the Washington Nationals.

In the game, Wrobleski allowed eight hits and as many earned runs through five innings, which led to an emotional meeting with Roberts.

"That's fair, that’s fair," Roberts said when referring to Wrobleski as the unmentioned ace of the pitching staff. "And I think the thing is, and I told the guys once we announced that he was an All-Star, you know, last April 8, he was in my office pretty much in tears once we sent him out. And he gave up eight to the Nationals that day.

"And to his credit," Roberts added. "He went back, looked in the mirror and said, 'How do I get better? How do I become a major-league pitcher?' Cleaned up his closet, got better."

When Wrobleski’s fateful outing against the Nationals occurred, he had been pitching at the MLB level for less than a calendar year. Now, he has more experience. That experience, coupled with a brutal start in the early days of the 2025 season, made him the All-Star he is today.

"He's a tough kid," Roberts said. "He goes after guys. He's learned, you know, because I always tell the pitchers, the hitters will tell you what you need to work on, right? And he took that to heart. And now he's an All-Star.

"And like you said, he is an unheralded ace," Roberts added. "And we talk about Snell, Glassnow, Yamamoto. But I'll tell you right now that we wouldn't be where we're at without Justin Wrobleski."

Wrobleski is one of five Dodgers who were named to the All-Star team, joining Freddie Freeman, Max Muncy, Andy Pages and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In 16 games this season (15 starts) Wrobleski has logged a 10-2 record, a 2.69 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP in 100.1 innings of work. His 10 wins are tied for fifth among qualified pitchers.

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