Former Clemson pitcher wins World Series

Baseball’s fall classic concluded on Saturday night when the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 5-4. But some Clemson baseball fans might have noticed a former Tiger get some innings in the World Series for champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

Former Clemson pitcher, now current Dodger bullpen arm, Justin Wrobleski, wrapped up a very nice postseason when the Dodgers took home Game 7 of the World Series. The left-handed reliever for the Dodgers only pitched for Clemson during his freshman season in 2019, before transferring to a junior college, State College of Florida, for the 2020 season. Wrobleski only spent one season at State College of Florida before entering the transfer portal again, this time landing at Oklahoma State.

Wrobleski was drafted by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2021 MLB Draft and made his major league debut with the Dodgers in 2024.

In his one season with the Tigers, Wrobleski struggled to find a rhythm as a freshman on the mound. Wrobleski started two games during the 2019 season and posted a 0-2 record with a 10.38 ERA, adding 15 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched. The left-handed pitcher allowed 14 walks and 16 hits in his 13 innings pitched, including two home runs. Posting a 2.30 WHIP, Wrobleski allowed a lot of traffic on the basepath in his sole season with the Tigers.

During the MLB postseason, Wrobleski only appeared in the World Series, making an appearance in the Fall Classic in four games, recording a 0.00 ERA over five innings pitched, adding six strikeouts without allowing a walk. Wrobleski was a part of a tense situation when he hit Blue Jays infielder Andrés Giménez in the hand during Game 7, eventually drawing both teams’ benches and bullpen on the field for a shouting match between the two teams.  

Although Wrobleski had a short cameo with the Clemson baseball program, it is still nice for Clemson baseball fans to see the former Tiger in the postseason and the World Series.