The Los Angeles Dodgers feared the worst when their superstar shortstop and elite leadoff hitter was struck by a pitch in mid-June. Mookie Betts suffered a broken hand, placing him on the Injured List for the foreseeable future.
In Betts’s dramatic absence, the shortstop position was left vacant, waiting for someone of his caliber to fill the vital role. The Dodgers called on Miguel Rojas, and he has more than answered.
Both on the field and off, Rojas has made a substantial impact on his team. With his production at the plate, elite glove in the field, and incredible clubhouse presence, Rojas has not only filled an open role but solidified his spot on this Dodgers team.
Will Rojas be able to maintain his pace amidst the pressure?
Rojas’s Role Since Betts’s Injury
Since getting recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City following Betts’s injury, Rojas has been sharing time at shortstop with Kike Hernández. While receiving most of the starts, he has been perfect in the field, with zero errors and a 1.000 fielding percentage.
In the batter’s box, Rojas has been more than satisfactory for the Dodgers. A stretch of games in June showed that when he got at least one hit, the Dodgers scored another victory. When Rojas is in the starting lineup, the Dodgers have been 31-12. This is the player the Dodgers need to push them to success for the remainder of the year.
Rojas is batting .283 overall. According to Orel Hershiser, since mid-May, he has been batting .320, placing him in the top five hitters in the league. He is very productive with his at-bats. His Base Percentage is at a high of .327. He prioritizes finding ways to get on base by looking for holes and getting base hits, making him score often.
Rojas’s Intangible Qualities
Physical production is something that Rojas creates day in and day out. However, his presence in the clubhouse is just as important to the team as his numbers. He is known to have a big, light-hearted energy that radiates through the locker room. Redeemable qualities like this are what make Rojas an MVP of the club.
Rojas has been with the Dodgers for three seasons: 2014, 2023, and 2024. The former Miami Marlin has had a consistent and impactful 10-year career. His career batting average is .259 while registering a career OPS of .669. 2024 has been one of his best years to date. As he plays more innings, he is hopeful the production will follow suit.
He has become a leader on the team, no matter where he is playing. On the bench or in the field, Rojas is sure to make an impact. In a post-game interview with Dodgers Manager Dave Roberts said, “Miggy Ro has been playing fantastic baseball on both sides. Defensively, he’s been unbelievable.”
Miguel Moving Forward
With how Rojas has been performing, it is suggested that he will remain at shortstop for the remainder of the season, placing Betts somewhere else in the field. The impact he has had on the team since Betts’s broken hand has been unparalleled.
Though the Dodgers have used him as a utility player until now, he will more than likely stay on the left side of the infield for the remainder of the year. Rojas and the Dodgers will look to take the series against the Milwaukee Brewers and move to 55-35 on the year.
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