It’s been greater than a month since Mookie Betts final took the sphere. A fastball to the hand left Betts with a fractured hand and opened the shortstop place up for Miguel Rojas.
Rojas has been an on a regular basis starter for almost all of his 11-season profession, taking part in a complete of 6812 innings. He held down the place for Los Angeles final season, splitting time with Chris Taylor. Rojas was additionally a beginning shortstop for the Miami Marlins earlier than becoming a member of the Dodgers in 2023.
“For Miguel Rojas, it’s (preferable to play shortstop), as a result of that’s what I get pleasure from taking part in. And I actually think about myself a shortstop. I think about myself not only a common shortstop. I feel I may be above common defensively and I may be common offensively, and that’s a very good shortstop for you.”
— Miguel Rojas, through Dodgers Nation
Defensively, Rojas has been value 5 Outs Above Common as a shortstop this season. He additionally has recorded 77 assists and 6 double performs, with three double performs being began by Rojas.
From June 16, the day Betts was injured, to the All-Star break, Rojas batted .293/.333/.400 with a .733 OPS and 109 wRC+. He tallied 22 hits, 9 runs, 4 walks, and 7 RBIS throughout 75 at-bats.
Regardless of posting his highest batting common this season in June, there’s uncertainty surrounding whether or not Rojas ought to keep on the place after Betts returns.
“Doubts are going to be there. This isn’t going to be the primary time listening to that, ‘Oh no, he’s going to fall down’ or ‘He’s not going to proceed to hit like that. The way you going to maintain that when you’ve by no means been that form of hitter?’ I don’t care.”
— Miguel Rojas, through Dodgers Nation
Betts is anticipated to return within the subsequent few weeks as his restoration was projected to take 6-8 weeks. Though Betts is a six-time Gold Glove winner, he isn’t assured to leap proper again into the shortstop position. Betts had not performed shortstop since highschool, and it confirmed.
“My complete profession [I’ve] been doubted by lots of people that ‘I’m not going to hit, you’re not going to play the large leagues, you’re not going to do that. We’re going to we’re going to seek out another person.’ And in the event that they do nice. All of us attempting to get the group higher. And if shortstop is the place to go, that might be nice for us. There’s going to be different positions for me to play. I’m going to face good matchups, and I gotta face left-handed pitchers. But when my identify is known as to play on a regular basis shortstop, I’m prepared. I’m not afraid. I’m not petrified of the second, or the state of affairs. I simply wish to play. And if it’s my identify to play shortstop, I’m going to present the group one of the best, my finest that Miguel Rojas can do.”
— Miguel Rojas, through Dodgers Nation
The 35-year-old’s efficiency this month has impressed Dave Roberts. He mentioned he would think about maintaining Rojas at shortstop and sending Betts to second base instead of Gavin Lux, in accordance with the Los Angeles Occasions.
Picture Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports activities
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