One of the many subplots to the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees playing in the World Series last year was the history between Miguel Rojas and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
During a podcast appearance last March, Chisholm was critical of Rojas from their time together as teammates on the Miami Marlins. Rojas dismissed Chisholm’s comments in his first response to the matter and said he did not plan on reaching out to his former teammate to clear the air.
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The animosity and resentment Chisholm holds toward Rojas resurfaced this week as he recalled the veteran cutting up his cleats and pouring milk in another pair. Rojas again largely brushed the matter aside.
Despite another instance of criticism from Chisholm, Rojas said he still doesn’t intend to talk to him about their history, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:
Rojas said he hasn’t spoken to Chisholm, “and I’m not planning on it.”
While Chisholm has repeatedly taken aim at Rojas’ leadership approach in the Marlins clubhouse, the Dodgers have continued to laud his presence within their team.
Last season manager Dave Roberts mentioned Rojas as one of the key leaders in the Dodgers clubhouse, and it’s a sentiment president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman has echoed.
It’s plausible Rojas has evolved as a leader and learned from past actions to be a positive presence inside a Dodgers clubhouse that collectively has a strong culture. It’s one of the many factors players pointed to as being key for the team in the face of adversity last year.
Leadership from Miguel Rojas
Among those that Rojas has been particularly active in assisting are Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.
Rojas continues to provide advice to Betts on how to play shortstop, and he took a proactive approach in welcoming each of the Japanese natives to the Dodgers. For Sasaki, that included Rojas giving up his No. 11 jersey for the heralded rookie.
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