Justin Wrobleski gives Oklahoma State baseball its first MLB All-Star since Robin Ventura

Robin Ventura struck out against Eric Gagne in the top of the fifth inning of the 2002 MLB All-Star Game. The infamous one in Milwaukee that ended in a tie. 

And that was the last time a former Oklahoma State Cowboy appeared in the Midsummer Classic. 

Twenty-two years later, Dodgers pitcher Justin Wrobleski is set to become the first MLB All-Star out of OSU since Ventura. 

Wrobleski was added to the National League roster in place of injured Reds starter Chase Burns. It’s quite the birthday gift for Wrobleski, who will turn 26 on Tuesday — the day of the All-Star game in Philadelphia. 

Wrobleski played one season at OSU (2021) after transferring in from junior college. He made eight starts for the Cowboys, going 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA. 

He’s gone 10-2 for the Dodgers this season with a 2.69 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. He’s tied for third in the National League in wins and ranks fourth in WHIP. 

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Now that the 22-year drought is over, who will be the next Cowboy to follow Wrobleski as an All-Star? What about the next Sooner (the last was Jason Bartlett in 2009)? Or the next Oklahoma high school prospect who didn’t go to either OSU or OU?

Here’s my pick for each. 

Next OSU All-Star: Mets SP Nolan McLean 

McLean has been one of the lone bright spots for the dreadful Mets. The 24-year-old righty is 6-6 with a 3.52 ERA and 1.12 WHIP. McLean, a two-way star at OSU (2021-23), has the makings of a multi-time All-Star. 

Next OU All-Star: Red Sox SP Jake Bennett 

The Bixby HS product has only logged 47.2 innings as a big leaguer, but the small sample has been spectacular. The 6-foot-6 lefty has been a premium control pitcher. He has a 0.94 WHIP and ranks in the 89th percentile of all pitchers in expected ERA. Maybe it’s recency bias, but I’ll give the edge to Bennett over fellow starting pitchers Cade Horton (Cubs) — who’s recovering from right elbow surgery — and Cade Cavalli (Nationals). 

Next Oklahoma preps All-Star: Red Sox SP Payton Tolle 

Tolle starred at Bethany HS before attending Wichita State and TCU. Like his teammate, Jake Bennett, Tolle is a 6-foot-6 left-hander with a sparkling WHIP (1.07). Only 23, Tolle figures to be a front-end starter in Boston for years to come. 

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Oklahomans with best British Open chances 

The British Open, the last golf major of the year, will tee off Thursday at Royal Birkdale in Southport, England. 

Here are the top-five contenders with Oklahoma ties: 

5. Alex Noren (OSU): The former Cowboy has three missed cuts in his last four starts, but he’s had success at the British Open. At Royal Birkdale, specifically, where he tied for sixth in 2017. That’s when Jordan Spieth hoisted the Claret Jug. 

4. Rickie Fowler (OSU): Fowler, 37, is probably never going to win a major. He’s only won one tournament this decade. But don’t be surprised if he has a good showing. He tied for 22nd here back in 2017 and tied for 14th at last year’s British Open. 

3. Viktor Hovland (OSU): Hovland is hot. He won the Travelers Championship last month and tied for 13th over the weekend at the Scottish Open. His best British Open finish was a tie for fourth in 2022. 

2. Chris Gotterup (OU): Gotterup’s July has gotten off to a sizzling start: He won the John Deere Classic and tied for 11th at the Scottish Open. He finished third in last year’s British Open, which was his debut in the event. Gotterup is among the favorites this week. 

1. Wyndham Clark (OSU): Tiger Woods (2000) was the last man to win the U.S. Open and the British Open in the same year. That’s the kind of history Clark is chasing this week. He tied for fourth last year at Royal Portrush. 

More: OU football recruiting class soaring for 2027 with third 5-star in-state prospect

Five-star football recruits from Oklahoma 

The 2027 class of Oklahoma high school football recruits is loaded. 

Rivals lists two five-star prospects from the state: Fort Gibson offensive lineman Cooper Hackett and Mustang cornerback Gabriel Osborne Jr., who was elevated from four stars on Monday. 

247Sports also lists two Oklahoma five-stars: Osborne and Bixby offensive lineman Kaeden Penny. 

All three are OU commits, parts of a Sooner class that ranks sixth according to both recruiting sites. 

Just how rare is it for Oklahoma to produce two five-star recruits in the same class? 

One is rare enough. 

Booker T. Washington’s Dax Hill, who went to Michigan, was the last five-star from Oklahoma, according to Rivals’ industry rankings. Hill was in the 2019 high school class. 

Westmoore’s Brey Walker was a Rivals five-star in 2018. The last five-star before Walker was the late Austin Box, from Enid, in 2007. Southeast’s Gerald McCoy was a five-star in 2006. 

That’s as far back as the Rivals rankings go. So having two Oklahoma five-stars in the same class? That’d be a first. 

Not according to 247Sports, though. They ranked both Walker and Midwest City’s Jalen Redmond as five-stars in 2018. That’s the only other year in the 247 database with two five-stars from Oklahoma. 

Credit Brent Venables and his staff for scooping up the homegrown talent. 

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com. Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Justin Wrobleski gives Oklahoma State baseball its first MLB All-Star since Robin Ventura