The Los Angeles Dodgers began their final series of the regular season with a win, but it was not without a scare as Miguel Rojas left the game with a hand injury.
Rojas was hit by a pitch on his left hand in the seventh inning and ended up being replaced in the game by Amed Rosario. The Dodgers announced the injury as a contusion, but Rojas was set to undergo additional testing.
After Rojas received X-rays on his hand, the results provided a positive outlook for the veteran shortstop, who was able to avoid any major injury, he said on SportsNet LA:
“I’m glad the results of the X-rays were negative and we don’t have to worry about any big breaks. That being said, we have to wait until tomorrow to see how I feel. Sometimes bruising can hide little stuff here and there. I’m pretty positive everything is going to be all right and I’ll be good to go.”
Rojas is set to undergo a CT scan and not be in the lineup on Saturday, but all indications are he’ll be ready when the Dodgers host Game 1 of the National League Division Series:
“It feels OK. I got a round of treatment. Right now, I know it’s going to hurt. I got hit there before, and it’s probably going to take a little bit for it to start feeling better. But I’m glad with these couple games and then we have a couple days before we play our first playoff game. I’m pretty positive I’m going to be able to play.”
With Rojas out at least one day, the Dodgers have multiple options to play shortstop still, including Rosario, Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández.
The 34-year-old has played almost every day as the Dodgers’ primary shortstop, batting .236/.290/.322 with five home runs, 31 RBI and 49 runs scored.
Although the offensive production has been below league average, Rojas has been one of the best defenders in baseball, posting an outs above average in the 90th percentile.
He has also been a leader in the clubhouse and on the field, bringing positive energy to his teammates daily.
Miguel Rojas created dugout signs
The Dodgers have had multiple celebrations this season, most notably David Peralta’s train arm motion and Freddie Freeman’s dancing, but Rojas also brought some handwritten signs into the dugout.
“I kind of get bored when I’m on the bench,” Rojas told DodgerBlue.com. “So I made my own sign with a Sharpie. In the dugouts there’s a lot of shenanigans that happen throughout the season. I feel like I brought a couple that the guys had never heard before.”
Rojas wrote “Take that ball” and occasionally held it up after some of his teammates’ hits. It’s one of two phrases the veteran shortstop has coined.
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