Griffin Tobias may not be attending school anymore, but one could say class remains in session for the 2024 Lake Central graduate.
Every time Tobias takes the mound in the Milwaukee Brewers’ system, baseball has a new lesson for him.
“It’s been a gigantic learning experience,” he said. “There’s a lot of work and a lot of things you learn along the way. I’ve definitely gotten my feet wet in new environments, and I’ve gotten my teeth knocked in a lot more than I’m used to. But it’s about learning to adapt to the environment that I’m in.”
The newest environment for Tobias is Single-A Carolina, where the 6-foot right-hander has joined former Lake Central teammate Josh Adamczewski on the Mudcats and will likely remain for the rest of this season after a call-up July 4 in his first full professional season.
Tobias (1-0), who was selected by the Brewers in the ninth round of the 2024 MLB draft after leading Lake Central to the Class 4A state title, has posted a 3.20 ERA in 19 2/3 innings across six appearances for the Mudcats.
“I still think I can do better with a couple of things right now, but I’m excited with what I’ve been doing,” he said. “I can’t really complain.”
Tobias had a few more complaints earlier in the season, though, as he endured some growing pains in the Arizona Complex League, a typical destination for new draft picks.
“I was throwing a lot of fastballs earlier in the year and wasn’t mixing in a lot of my off-speed stuff,” he said. “That’s not usually my style. Then I lost the feel for my cutter, and that hurt me too.
“But I got that feel back in June, and it got much better. I started pitching to my strengths.”
Those strengths and more were evident when Tobias was in high school, according to Lake Central coach Mike Swartzentruber.
“Griffin had and still has intangibles that so many pitchers who come through the high school ranks don’t have,” Swartzentruber said. “Velocity can get you noticed or even drafted, but the skills that Griffin has can keep him as a professional for a long time.”
Carolina Mudcats right-hander Griffin Tobias gets ready to throw a pitch against the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers during a Carolina League game in Zebulon, North Carolina, on Friday, July 25, 2025. (Neal Hock / Carolina Mudcats)
With his full arsenal of pitches available, Tobias tore through opposing lineups in June, striking out 20 and walking only one in 24 1/3 innings while posting a 2.96 ERA. He was named the Brewers’ Complex League pitcher of the month for June just before he was promoted.
That call-up came without much fanfare or advance notice. Tobias said he arrived at the Brewers’ facility in Arizona at 9 a.m., his usual time, and was informed he had to be on a flight by 3 p.m.
“It was a pretty hectic day,” he said. “I had to pack my stuff, get an Uber and then catch a flight. I didn’t get to Carolina until about 12, and then I had to wake up the next day to go on a road trip. It’s pretty exciting when you get called up, but it can be a little stressful packing.”
Tobias joked about a pair of shoes he left behind and that have become the property of his former roommate in Arizona, but that wasn’t the only change awaiting him in Single-A.
“It’s a different animal,” he said. “There are scouting reports here. There’s film. They know everything about you. We have a pitchers’ meeting and game plan on what we’re going to attack. It’s completely different.”
Swartzentruber said Tobias has always been able to adapt, though.
“He has an uncanny ability to figure things out on the fly, and he’s always been an active learner, willing to pick up little tidbits from anyone and everyone in an effort to continue to improve as a pitcher,” Swartzentruber said.
Tobias said he has also been learning how to remain competitive during an outing even when a pitch or two isn’t working. He alternates between three fastballs — a cutter, a four-seamer and a sinker — and if one of those pitches doesn’t seem to be there during a pregame warmup, Tobias said he’s figuring out how to manage that issue.
“If I don’t have two of those pitches, I’m hitting the showers by the second inning,” he said with a laugh. “If I have all three, then I’m solid. If not, then I’m really going to have to gear down.
“It’s tough, man. Sometimes you just don’t have your best stuff, and you just have to grind. I’m sure there are plenty of times in the big leagues when guys have their B or C stuff, and they’re still getting outs. You just have to learn how to throw zeros up on the board.”
Dave Melton is a freelance reporter.
Originally Published: August 18, 2025 at 10:09 AM CDT