The Los Angeles Dodgers have been without their top two shortstop options for most of the season with Gavin Lux tearing his ACL and LCL early in Spring Training, and Miguel Rojas landing on the 10-day injured list last week due to a left hamstring strain.
Although the IL stint is the first of the season for Rojas, he’s dealt with numerous injuries dating back to Spring Training, including a right calf and foot cramp, left groin tightness and a left hamstring cramp. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts expressed confidence that Rojas fully recovered from his leg injuries before the veteran was sidelined.
The Dodgers placed Rojas on the IL on April 19, which makes him eligible to return on the 29th, and it’s possible the shortstop could be activated on the first day possible, Roberts said via Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group:
Injured shortstop Miguel Rojas has increased his workouts, taking batting practice on the field Sunday and taking ground balls at shortstop. Rojas is on the IL with a hamstring injury but could be ready to return when he is eligible to be activated next weekend.
“He’s doing much better,” Roberts said. “He already ran. He’s going to hit, take some ground balls today. He’s pretty encouraged about being ready when needed.”
Chris Taylor was Rojas’s immediate replacement, but he started dealing with an oblique injury, which forced the club to call up Luke Williams. They also gave Mookie Betts the opportunity to start at shortstop for the first time in his MLB career.
The Dodgers may be best off letting Betts continue to start at shortstop even when Rojas returns, however. The 34-year-old was hitting .125/.200/.156 with a four wRC+ and -0.2 WAR before the latest hamstring injury.
The Dodgers recalled prospect Michael Busch on Tuesday, and he could be a big addition to the offense. But it would require Betts to continue playing shortstop to easily get Busch into the lineup as well.
Rojas may be best suited for a utility role, as originally planned, mixing in at all four infield spots and potentially platooning in the outfield with David Peralta or Jason Heyward against left-handers.
Last year, Rojas hit .236/.283/.323 with a 73 wRC+ and he has only produced better than below league average offense one time in his career, which came during the shortened 2020 season.
Dodgers didn’t consider José Iglesias before Padres signing
With their issues at shortstop, it could make sense for the Dodgers to pursue another option, including José Iglesias, but they are reportedly were not interested in adding any of the available players.
The Dodgers almost assuredly don’t see any upside in bringing on Iglesias, or any other free-agent shortstop, compared to who they already have. Iglesias is a career .279/.319/.382 hitter with an 87 wRC+, which is far below Taylor’s career numbers and about the same as Rojas’ averages.
Iglesias went on to sign a Minor League contract with the San Diego Padres.
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