Dodgers' Justin Wrobleski finally gets his All-Star call
LOS ANGELES – A lot of things had to tumble into place for Justin Wrobleski to become an All-Star. But they finally did.
Reds right-hander Chase Burns felt some discomfort in a groin muscle while covering home plate on a play during his start Wednesday. After talking to team officials on Friday, Burns pulled out of the All-Star Game.
Phillies right-hander Zach Wheeler was the first choice to replace Burns on the National League roster. But Wheeler told reporters on Friday that he felt "disrespected" by not being chosen sooner and declined the invitation.
"I'm not going to be the fifth option," Wheeler said.
Wrobleski wasn't happy either that he wasn't chosen sooner. But – even as the sixth option – he wasn't about to turn down the opportunity.
"Obviously, I was upset. I was not happy that I wasn’t going to be a part of it," Wrobleski said. "To be able to go there and do it is super exciting."
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts had made the case for Wrobleski all week since the first selections to the pitching staff were announced. He said he was "elated" to give Wrobleski the call with the news Saturday morning.
"I think the goal coming in here every day and being in the major leagues, for me, is the goal is to be one of the best," said Wrobleski, who has a 10-2 record and 2.69 ERA. "Not to say I’m always going to be there or whatever, but the goal is always to be the best. And if I can put myself among those guys and get myself in that conversation more often than not, that’s where I’m excited, and that’s kind of how I want to view my career and kind of continue to get better and put myself in positions to kind of do cool things like the All-Star Game or whatever it may be.
"I think that’s what kind of drives me, is just that chase to be one of the best in the game.”
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was selected to the NL pitching staff last week. But Roberts confirmed Saturday that Yamamoto will not be available to pitch in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
DRAFT DAY
Thanks to their signing of free agents Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz last winter, the Dodgers had just two picks in the first four rounds of the MLB draft held Saturday.
With their first pick (40th overall), they took South Carolina high school shortstop Bo Lowrance. In the fourth round (132nd overall), they took University of Florida right-hander Russell Sandefer.
Lowrance is a 6-foot-5 left-handed hitter with good power potential – and a role model already on the Dodgers.
"I try and model myself after Freddie Freeman," Lowrance said Saturday. "He's obviously a first baseman and I'm on the left side so defensively we're a little different. But he's still unbelievably athletic and a big thing that I've watched for years is his approach and how he uses the whole field.
"He's somebody that I'm always trying to emulate."
Most projections have Lowrance filling out physically and outgrowing shortstop with a move to third base (or first) eventually. The same thing was said about the 6-foot-4 Corey Seager when the Dodgers made him their first pick in the 2012 draft. He is in his 12th season playing shortstop in the big leagues.
“That’s one of the things that’s unique for Bo,” Dodgers director of amateur scouting Zach Fitzpatrick said. “For his size … he’s light on his feet. I think that was one of the things we saw early in the spring is just his length and quickness for his size was fairly unique.
“So we’re optimistic. We’re going to run that play out. Obviously, as he develops and adds size and strength those things can change. But for now, we’re optimistic on the shortstop probability and ways we can help him and keep him there. And then if down the road he transitions to third base, we think he has profile tools for that position and will be really good there as well.”
REHAB ROUNDUP
Right-hander Edwin Diaz began his minor-league injury-rehabilitation assignment with Class-A Ontario Saturday night. Diaz has been out since April and is returning from surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He is expected to rejoin the Dodgers at some point after the All-Star break.
Left-hander Blake Snell pitched two simulated innings to hitters (Kike' Hernandez and Eliezer Alfonzo Jr.) Saturday afternoon. According to Roberts, Snell will start a rehab assignment next weekend and make four or five starts before joining the Dodgers. Snell is also recovering from surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow.
Right-hander Tyler Glasnow threw a fastballs-only bullpen session Friday afternoon. He has been out since May 6 with lower back spasms and has had a couple setbacks previously when he tried to increase his throwing intensity.
"I think for Glas it's more how he feels after the fact," Roberts said. "I think there's been times where he's played catch, thrown pens and then feels good until he doesn't. The back is a little tricky. Hopefully he comes in feeling good today and then when he keeps throwing his ‘pens we keep moving the needle."
ROSTER MOVES
The Dodgers activated right-hander Landon Knack from the injured list before Saturday's game and sent right-hander Kyle Hurt to Triple-A. In order to clear a 40-man roster spot, left-hander Charlie Barnes was designated for assignment.
Knack was placed on the 60-day IL with an oblique strain at the end of spring training. He made three starts for Oklahoma City on a rehab assignment, allowing three runs on nine hits in seven innings.
Hurt was a reliable piece of the bullpen earlier in the season and ended May with a 1.00 ERA in 18 appearances. Since then, however, he has struggled, posting a 10.13 ERA in his past 14 appearances with 12 walks and 18 hits in 13 ⅓ innings.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks (TBA) at Dodgers (RHP Emmet Sheehan, 4-6, 4.91 ERA), Sunday, 1:10 p.m., SportsNet LA, 570 AM
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This story was originally published July 11, 2026 at 6:03 PM.