Inspired by Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski shows significant improvement with an ERA of only 1.88.

Los Angeles Dodgers' 25-year-old left-handed pitcher Justin Wrobleski continues to deliver surprising performances early in the season. On April, 21 away against the Colorado Rockies, he led the team to a 12-3 victory with a quality start of seven innings allowing only one run, ending the team's two-game losing streak. After the game, Wrobleski credited the team's collaboration and specifically mentioned the immense inspiration Shohei Ohtani has brought to his pitching.

Following his previous standout performance of eight scoreless innings against the New York Mets, Wrobleski excelled again on April 21, pitching seven innings using 97 pitches, allowing eight hits and only one run, securing his third win of the season. His ERA dropped to a remarkable 1.88, with a WHIP of only 0.88.

Wrobleski attributed his excellent performance to the strong support from his teammates and the precise defensive setups provided by the data analysis department. He humbly stated that the catcher's guidance and the stable performance of the defense allowed him to focus on executing each pitch, gradually establishing his footing in the major leagues.

Last season, Wrobleski appeared in 24 games with an ERA of 4.32. This season, although only four games provide a limited sample, his ERA has sharply dropped to 1.88, representing a qualitative leap. He admitted he had been troubled by overly monotonous pitch selection, but found a breakthrough by observing his teammate Shohei Ohtani's pitching. He paid special attention to how Ohtani flexibly adjusts the speed of his curveball and combines it with his slider, thereby disrupting the hitter's swing timing.

Wrobleski said, "I don't have the exaggerated movement of Ohtani's breaking balls, but I learned from him how to confuse hitters." He pointed out that by incorporating the curveball, lowering the entry point, and deliberately adjusting the pitching tempo, he successfully made Rockies hitters unable to find their swing focus. He emphasized that as long as he can disrupt the hitter's rhythm, he can pitch longer in games, which is the key reason he has been able to deliver consecutive quality starts with long innings.

Besides Shohei Ohtani, Wrobleski also frequently seeks advice from Japanese ace right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He specifically observes Yamamoto's meticulous attention to detail in training and execution as a top-tier pitcher, gaining substantial insights.