Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Justin Wrobleski spoke at a team press conference on July 8, 2026, addressing his omission from the All-Star Game after recording nine strikeouts in his July 7 start against the Colorado Rockies.
Wrobleski acknowledged the sting of the decision but framed it as fuel. "It's frustrating to not get that nod," he said, adding that the snub gives him "more reason to try and keep getting better and then, hopefully, I can get the respect of players and everybody else and maybe be in there 2027."
Despite the disappointment, Wrobleski assessed his first half positively. "In the categories that I'm trying to be good at, I've done a pretty good job," he noted, while acknowledging room for improvement. He pointed specifically to reading hitters with two strikes as a skill he has continued to develop, stating he is "continuing to get better at kind of knowing where to go with two strikes, knowing kind of where to go versus a certain hitter with two strikes and just kind of reading the game." He also credited the Dodgers pitching staff's collective approach as central to their swing-and-miss results, saying, "as a collective we've done a good job between Rush, myself, Chuck a couple times ago, Mark and Connor and everybody just kind of working together to figure out what to do once we get two strikes."
Wrobleski expressed gratitude toward manager Doc, who gave him the opportunity to be a major-league starter and has continued lobbying for his All-Star selection. "He's given me this opportunity to kind of be a starter in the major leagues when maybe some other teams would have given up on me," Wrobleski said. Going forward, he stated his primary focus is to "keep eating innings for him and getting deep into games and doing my best."
When asked about the possibility of an All-Star replacement call-up, Wrobleski was measured: "I would like to know where my All-Star break's going to be. But if it happens, it's great. If it doesn't happen, some time off and just get to chill for a couple days, so either way I'm all good."