That Mookie Betts has caught on so nicely at shortstop, going towards a deluge of opposing visitors on his approach again into the defensive spectrum, is nothing in need of exceptional. However from time to time, throughout a sport, Betts may look to his infield associate in Miguel Rojas to debate one thing.
Betts dabbled at shortstop final yr, his first time on the place because the Arizona Fall League in 2013. However this yr, Betts is the on a regular basis shortstop after initially taking up when Gavin Lux struggled. to throw throughout spring coaching. To this point, Betts is rated above common defensively on the place by Defensive Runs Saved (+6), Whole Zone Score (+5), and Defensive Runs Prevented (+3.4), and simply common in Outs Above Common.
“I see him as a top-tier shortstop, actually,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated final weekend. “I'm proud to say that due to all of the work he did with Dino [Ebel]Chris Woodward, and Miguel Rojas.”
That Rojas was listed alongside a few coaches provides us a touch as to his stature within the group.
However the 35-year-old Rojas is producing on the plate as nicely, hitting .259/.328/.431 with a 120 wRC +. He already has two dwelling runs this yr, after not hitting his first dwelling run till August. He performs principally towards left-handed pitchers, the position deliberate for him when the Dodgers traded for him in January 2023.
These plans for taking part in time went out the window when Lux blew out his knee within the first week of spring coaching video games, leaving a gaping gap at shortstop that Rojas crammed for about two-thirds of the season. Final yr, Rojas began a complete of 109 video games. This yr, he has began 17 of 41 video games thus far, beginning video games at second base and third along with shortstop, however his position goes past what occurs between the foul traces.
“No one once I got here into this group requested me, 'Hey we wish you to be a frontrunner' or 'We would like you to be a mentor.' It's simply who I need to be and who I need to be for the long run,” Rojas stated final week. “After my profession is over, I'm making an attempt to remain on the sphere, keep in teaching, and I need to be part of a group that desires to win.”
That included serving to Lux as he moved again to second base from the pinch hitter this yr, or when Rojas helped Miguel Vargas final yr at second base, a place the rookie held till being despatched to the All-Star break 2023. Rojas, then newly acquired, invited Vargas to coach with him in Florida, and guided him by spring coaching and likewise through the season.
Rojas additionally helped Betts final yr play second base recurrently and the occasional shortstop, and has been by his aspect throughout numerous pregame infield drills as Betts has been dashing by a crash course within the finer factors within the place.
“He's among the finest within the sport. Having him give me all of the data he has, it's nice. I like studying,” Betts stated of Rojas at Camelback Ranch throughout spring coaching. “He's actually obtained a bit to go as nicely quick, however I'd slightly he be on high of me, keep on high of me to verify I'm doing all the pieces proper than by no means.
It's no surprise the Dodgers signed Rojas to a contract extension only a few weeks after the acquisition, in February 2023. He’ll earn $5 million this season, and the group has a $5 million possibility for 2025. with a $1 million buyout.
That is the eleventh season within the majors for Rojas, who arrived with the Dodgers in 2014 earlier than being traded to the Marlins in December's winter conferences. Rojas final week recalled first baseman Adrián González as a veteran who helped him as a freshman.
“He taught me so much, not solely on the sphere however off the sphere, issues like easy methods to be an expert, how veterans deal with rookies, at all times preserving it actually pleasant,” Rojas stated. “He at all times had time to take me to lunch, to speak to me concerning the sport of baseball, to speak to me about how life is greater than that point you’ve on the baseball subject. You're going to reside so much longer after , so you must develop these [relationships with] individuals who will aid you while you're completed taking part in baseball.”
Rojas labored his approach into common taking part in time in Miami, and in 2018, his fourth season with the Marlins, he was the group's common shortstop. Third baseman Martin Prado was a teammate throughout Rojas' first 5 years in Miami, and served as one other constructing block for him.
“I needed to play 162 video games, and it takes a distinct preparation. He took me below his wing,” Rojas stated final week. “He took me to Orlando, the place he lived, and I labored with him all through the season.”
Rojas has performed winter league baseball yearly in his native Venezuela since he was 20 years previous. However he skipped winter league after the 2017 season, earlier than a yr during which he performed 153 video games for the Marlins, utilizing Prado's recommendation. He briefly performed in winter leagues through the 2018-19 offseason, however then skipped it for the subsequent 4 years, earlier than returning to play for La Guaira final winter.
“That in all probability wasn't going to learn me down the street, as a result of it could be a key half down the street. [Marlins]”, Rojas recalled.
Placing the group first was evident even throughout spring coaching in 2023. Rojas was on the preliminary listing for Venezuela through the World Baseball Basic, however withdrew after Lux's harm to give attention to serving to the Dodgers.
“I really feel like should you assist your teammates and assist the people who find themselves going to play subsequent to you, your job will probably be simpler. That's at all times my mindset once I'm making an attempt to place Mookie in a greater place defensively, or once I tried to assist Miguel Vargas, or once I talked to Lux.
“I simply need to be a useful resource for them. It's the identical once I search for them on the offensive aspect, or baserunning, or what I search for on the plate. I really feel that we feed one another, and we assist so much.”
