Miguel Rojas (baseball)

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rojas and the second or maternal family name is Naidenoff.
Miguel Rojas
Miguel Rojas from the Nationals and Marlins at Nationals Park, August 24, 2020 (All-Pro Reels Photography) (50266124356) (cropped).jpg
Rojas with the Miami Marlins in 2020
Miami Marlins – No. 19
Infielder
Born: (1989-02-24) February 24, 1989 (age 32)
Los Teques, Miranda, Venezuela
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 6, 2014, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through September 29, 2021)
Batting average.265
Home runs33
Runs batted in233
Teams

Miguel Elias Rojas Naidernoff (born February 24, 1989) is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Professional career[]

Los Angeles Dodgers[]

Rojas during his tenure with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014

Rojas was signed by the Cincinnati Reds organization as an amateur free agent in 2006, and played in their minor league system through 2012, making it as far as the AAA Louisville Bats to end his 2012 season. He joined the Dodgers organization in 2013 and played for the Chattanooga Lookouts of the Class AA Southern League, where he hit .233 in 130 games. In 2014, he received a non-roster invite to Major League spring training, where he was given a chance to compete for the vacant second base job.[1][2] The Dodgers assigned him to the AAA Albuquerque Isotopes to start 2014, where he hit .302 in 51 games.

Rojas was called up to the Majors for the first time by the Dodgers on June 6, 2014,[3] and made his debut as a late inning defensive replacement.[4] His first hit was a single off Matt Belisle of the Colorado Rockies in his first start on June 8, 2014.

Rojas finished the 2014 regular season hitting only .181 with 1 home run and 9 RBIs in 85 games. He frequently took over for Hanley Ramírez at shortstop late in games for defensive purposes. On June 18, he successfully made an extremely difficult defensive play to preserve a no hitter thrown by Clayton Kershaw in the 7th inning.

Miami Marlins[]

Rojas playing for the New Orleans Zephyrs, triple-A affiliates of the Miami Marlins, in 2015

On December 10, 2014, Rojas was traded to the Miami Marlins, along with Dee Gordon and Dan Haren, in exchange for Andrew Heaney, Chris Hatcher, Austin Barnes, and Enrique "Kiké" Hernández.[5] In 2015, Rojas batted .282/.329/.366 with 1 home run and 17 RBI in 142 at-bats across 60 games. This earned Rojas more playing time the next season as he appeared in 123 games, slashing .247/.288/.325 with 1 home run and 14 RBI.[6]

In 2017, Rojas missed 62 games due to a broken thumb, but still appeared in 90 games, hitting for a .290.361/.375 batting line with 1 home run and 26 RBI in 272 at-bats. Rojas also led all NL shortstops in September and October with a .354 batting average and .948 OPS.[7] In 2018, Rojas set career-highs in nearly every offensive category; games played (153), runs (44), hits (123), home runs (11), RBI (53), and stolen bases (6).[8]

In 2019, Rojas batted .284/.331/.379, with the lowest isolated power in the National League (.095).[9][10] On September 23, 2019, Rojas agreed to a new two-year contract with the Marlins, worth $10.25 million.[11] In late July 2020, Rojas tested positive for COVID-19.[12][13][14] Despite testing positive, Rojas partnered with the company Stadium Custom Kicks during the 2020 season, branding the partnership as Miggy's Locker. The partnership allowed Rojas to design custom-made cleats to express his passion in shoes and basketball.[15] Overall in 2020, Rojas's batting line was all career-highs, with a .304/.392/.496 line on the year to go along with 4 home runs and 20 RBI.[9]

In 2021, Rojas played in 132 games, collecting 131 hits, 48 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, and a career-high 37 walks.[9] On October 28, 2021, the Marlins signed Rojas to a two-year contract extension worth $10 million.[16]


See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2014-03-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Dodgers trying to add offense to Miguel Rojas' game". 15 February 2014.
  3. ^ Eric Stephen (June 6, 2014). "Dodgers option Erisbel Arruebarrena to Triple-A, call up Miguel Rojas". truebluela.com.
  4. ^ "June 6, 2014 Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies play by play and box score". Baseball Reference.
  5. ^ Gurnick, Ken (December 11, 2014). "Dodgers adding Kendrick, Rollins in trades". MLB.com. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  6. ^ "2016 Marlins Season Review: Miguel Rojas". 4 January 2017.
  7. ^ "2017 Marlins Season Review: Miguel Rojas". 30 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Miami Marlins: Miguel Rojas is a Jack of All Trades". 10 December 2018.
  9. ^ a b c "Miguel Rojas Career Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "Major League Leaderboards » 2019 » Batters » Advanced Statistics | FanGraphs Baseball".
  11. ^ "Miguel Rojas guaranteed $10.25M in 2-year deal with Marlins".
  12. ^ Nightengale, Gabe Lacques and Bob. "Marlins' 2020 season is paused by MLB after COVID-19 outbreak among players, coaches". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  13. ^ Breen, Matt. "After COVID-19 outbreak, the Marlins decided via group text message to play Sunday vs. the Phillies". inquirer.com. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  14. ^ "Some games postponed after Marlins outbreak". ESPN.com. 2020-07-27. Retrieved 2020-07-28.
  15. ^ De Nicola, Christina (March 18, 2021). "'Air Rojas' brings personality to kick collection". MLB.com. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021.
  16. ^ De Nicola, Christina (October 28, 2021). "Rojas' extension 'an easy thing to do' for MIA". MLB.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2021.

External links[]

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