Entering the final month of the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers don’t have a ton to play for with the National League West title all but wrapped up and their playoff seeding likely set, but Miguel Rojas is looking forward to the start of the road trip.
Beginning Tuesday, the Dodgers’ next six games are away from, beginning with a series against the Miami Marlins. The matchup represents a homecoming for Rojas, who spent the last eight years of his career in South Florida.
It’s the first time Rojas is playing in Miami since being traded to the Dodgers during the offseason.
“It’s going to be an emotional series,” Rojas said. “I’m going to have a lot of people that I know there. I’m looking forward to that series and playing in Miami again.”
When the Marlins played at Dodger Stadium, Rojas took a day off before the series so he could be available for all three games against his former club before the plans were changed due to a rainout. This time around, the Dodgers have an off day before they begin their series with Miami, and loanDepot Park has a roof, so there is no worry of a delay.
With the Marlins, Rojas became a fan favorite and leader in the clubhouse while making his presence felt on the field as an everyday player with elite defensive ability. After being acquired from the Marlins, Rojas was expected to fill a utility role for the Dodgers, but the injury to Gavin Lux forced him into a starting job at shortstop.
Rojas had a slow start to his season, but he made adjustments and went back to utilizing what worked for him from his time with the Marlins, and has since found more success at the plate.
In August, Rojas had a .713 on-base plus slugging percentage, which was his highest in a calendar month this season. It’s still shy of the desired offensive production from a starter, but coupled with his elite defense, it makes Rojas a valuable player.
“I feel August was a pretty good month for me,” Rojas said. “Started September the right way, staying on the ball, not pulling off, not trying to hit a home run. If it goes, it goes. I’m best when I hit the ball to the pull side, but when I’m not trying to. Good signs these last couple games. Hopefully I can continue to do that.”
Miguel Rojas trying to set table for top of Dodgers lineup
With Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman often following Rojas in the lineup, the 34-year-old knows he doesn’t have to carry the offense on a nightly basis and instead looks to set the table for the big bats. “Personally, I feel like I can be a weapon at the bottom of the lineup,” Rojas said.
“I know it doesn’t have to be an extra-base hit to drive in a run, but getting on base for them is really important. I’ve been concerned about production and getting myself going into September and October, and all that. But at the end of the day, all I want is to be a productive at-bat in the bottom of the lineup for them to do what they’ve been doing.
“We have top MVP candidates at the top of our lineup, and we have to be on base for them. I’m pretty aware of the situation where I’m at, and I’m going to keep working to get on base for them.”
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