Miguel Rojas was a late scratch from the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup on Tuesday due to what the team deemed a “family matter.” The veteran shortstop has since revealed his father passed away earlier in the afternoon.
“From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank everyone who has communicated with me and with all of my family to show us your love and let us know how beloved my father was during his life,” Rojas wrote in Spanish on an Instagram post.
Rojas was poised to bat eighth on Tuesday, which would’ve come one day after he pitched the ninth inning for the Dodgers in their blowout win at Rogers Centre.
That was an ironic development considering Rojas’ lasting memory in Toronto is hitting the game-tying home run in the ninth inning of Game 7 of the World Series.
Rojas remained with the Dodgers for their 4-1 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, but manager Dave Roberts suggested after the game that he could leave the team to be with his family as soon as Wednesday morning.
However, Rojas is back in the lineup for the finale of their road trip. He’s again penciled in to start at shortstop and bat ninth. Had the veteran not been available on Wednesday, Roberts said the Dodgers planned to get through the day a player short and would re-evaluate upon returning home.
It’s plausible Rojas decided to remain with the Dodgers but will go on bereavement once the team is back in Los Angeles. Thursday is an off day in the Dodgers’ schedule before they begin a six-game homestand.
Rojas otherwise is expected to receive the bulk of starts at shortstop while Mookie Betts recovers from a right oblique strain.
Miguel Rojas’ 2026 stats
Rojas is hitting .263/.250/.316 with one double and one RBI in six games thus far. He has also allowed one run in one inning as a pitcher this year.
Rojas is in the final season of his career and has plans to join the Dodgers front office upon retiring. He also holds future aspirations of becoming a manager, with Roberts recently naming him and Kiké Hernández as players who he could see leading a team at one point down the line.
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