The Los Angeles Dodgers completed a sweep of the Boston Red Sox with a 9-6 win on Sunday, but it came at a cost as Miguel Rojas exited the game early due to right forearm tightness.
The veteran shortstop went 0-for-1 prior to being removed at the start of the fourth inning. Kiké Hernández slid over to shortstop and Cavan Biggio came off the bench to play third base.
Rojas was elevated to the starting shortstop role in mid-June when Mookie Betts suffered a fractured left hand. The Dodgers have been monitoring his workload, but the 35-year-old recently downplayed any concern.
Rojas also does not believe his forearm issue is something to worry about, via Doug Padilla of the Southern California News Group:
“I don’t think it’s going to be anything major,’ Rojas said. “Just going to come in tomorrow, see how it feels when I throw. As of right now, it’s just tightness of my forearm.”
Rojas’ forearm tightness is the first time this season he has dealt with an injury. Rojas was slowed by foot and calf issues during Spring Training last year, but still appeared in 124 games as the Dodgers’ primary shortstop.
He has only played in 67 games this season after being limited to a utility role for much of the first half. However, Rojas has enjoyed one of his best offensive campaigns despite cooling off a bit in recent weeks.
He is hitting .271/.316/.406 with 17 doubles, three home runs and 21 RBI in 207 plate appearances. His impressive play prompted conversations and debate over whether the Dodgers would consider moving Betts back to second base once he returned.
Dodgers options at shortstop if Miguel Rojas misses time
It isn’t clear if Rojas will need a stint on the 10-day injured list, but if he does, Hernández and Chris Taylor are likely to receive most of the opportunities at shortstop.
At minimum, Rojas will not be in the Dodgers lineup on Monday night for the series opener against the San Francisco Giants. But manager Dave Roberts said there is not a need for Rojas to undergo an MRI.
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