The MLB legacy of the Alou/Rojas family runs deep. Felipe and Matty Alou made multiple All-Star teams in the 60s, with Jesus joining them on the 1963 Giants for the first all-brother outfield. Felipe would further his reputation as the longtime manager of the Expos and Giants. Moises would become an even better MLB player than his father Felipe, racking up six All-Star appearances and MVP votes in seven seasons. And don’t forget Felipe’s other son, Luis, who was requested by MLB to use the surname on his birth certificate. Luis Rojas now serves as manager of the Mets.
Moises’ cousin, Mel Rojas, pitched in the Majors in the 90s for the Expos and other clubs, racking up 126 saves in his big league career. Mel Rojas Jr., however, hasn’t yet seen MLB success. Mel Jr., 31 in May, was drafted by the Pirates in the third round in 2010 as a switch-hitting outfielder out of Wabash Valley College in Mount Caramel, Illinois. At his MLB prospect peak, Rojas was ranked 23rd among Pirates prospects by Baseball America before the 2011 season. BA wrote, “Some see him as having five-tool potential, though with no true plus tool, but others see him as a tweener who won’t be able to remain in center and may not hit enough for a corner.”
Rojas topped out at Triple-A in the Pirates organization, and was traded to the Braves in 2016 for cash considerations. In 2017, he decided to reboot his career by signing with a KBO team, the KT Wiz. After four strong years in Suwon, Rojas is back on the radar for MLB teams. He appears on track for the KBO MVP award tomorrow after nearly winning the Triple Crown in 2020, boasting a .349/.417/.680 line with 47 home runs and 135 RBI in 628 plate appearances. Ted Baarda of Sports Info Solutions recently provided a scouting report on Rojas.
Rojas is represented by his cousin Jay Alou, son of Jesus Alou. Rojas fits best as a right fielder, and would require a Major League deal to return to the United States. As Rojas said to Kyle Koster of The Big Lead back in July, “If I win the MVP, I’m for sure getting a big-league contract. It would mean everything to me, and I’m not just saying that.” He earned $1.5MM in 2020, and is looking to top that amount. The Wiz would like to retain him, but Rojas is also drawing interest from three MLB teams as well as three Japanese clubs.
The question is how Rojas’ KBO video game numbers would translate to MLB. Rojas explained the difference in his interview with Koster: “Honestly, it’s harder to hit against Koreans than Americans sometimes. The average speed over here is 88-90 mph but it gets there quick and looks faster than it is. They’re very sneaky.” Rojas hasn’t mashed at the level of Eric Thames, who peaked at a 216 wRC+ in KBO and landed a three-year, $16MM deal with the Brewers four years ago. Thames has a 113 wRC+ in the Majors since returning, doing most of his damage against right-handed pitching.
When FanGraphs’ Dan Szymborski translated Rojas’ 2019 KBO season to its MLB equivalency, his .322/.381/.530 line in KBO became .266/.314/.448 in MLB. That’s pretty similar to the work of an Eric Hosmer or Renato Nunez the last couple of seasons, though Rojas upped his game in 2020. Unlike someone like Thames, Rojas has the ability to play the corner outfield capably, and appears to have the arm for right field. A low-level MLB deal does seem possible for Rojas, but he’d likely have to wait until after Wednesday’s non-tender deadline when teams will have a better picture of who’s available.
Great write-up. I love the in-depth work, family ties, and MLB translation numbers. MLBTR does great work! Keep it up!
Agreed. This is my favorite website
I love the site too. I use it for football and baseball. My only complaint is that it’s a rumor site. Rumors happen around the clock. There doesn’t appear to be 2nd and 3rd shift writers. Many times other sites are reporting things 12 hours earlier. It didn’t used to be like that. It went from my hourly check in to a once a day check in …but other than that it’s usually quality info and news’s.
I agree letmeclearmythroat. I work evenings myself and not much seems to get put on here late at night anymore.
absolutely. agree 100%
It’s the KBO. When a previous MLB player goes over there it’s the equivalent of a star college player beating up on a bunch of 16 year old high school players…
what about Jose Fernandez? he never got a long look in the Majors but has been fire in the KBO.
He’s already 32 but I agree with what you say. Some average to below average team (ex. Marlins, Brewers, Royals) could take a look at him that need first base help.
Why not Boston and move AV from right to center? Fenway RF is tough so I’m hesitant to move AV who seemed comfortable but it’s the kind of move Bloom might have to make to be able to improve the pitching.
$1.5+mil/yr on a 1 or 2 year MLB deal seems very likely for him.
Better stay in the KBO if he only got offer 1.5M a year IMHO. The money he will get next year if he choose to stay in South Korea probably bigger than this year contract (1.5M). Or he might wanna bet his future in Japan since NPB teams usually pay more than KBO teams. Wladimir Balentien got 500M yen (4.6M USD) from Softbank Hawks this year and next year..
Highest player contract in KBO, Dae Ho Lee 2.2M USD. Highest in Japan, Tomoyuki Sugano 6M USD
If he’s only going to get a pro-rated portion of whatever MLB contract he gets (that is, if the season is less than 162 games), he really might be better off staying in Korea or going to Japan, at least for a year. He probably needs to get at least $3M on an MLB deal in 2021 for the jump to be worthwhile (aside from whatever prestige he feels from playing in MLB).
Eight consistently mediocre years in the minors. Never a top prospect, never broke out, never called up. Now 31. Did he improve, or is he a AAAA player who found a home in the lower-velocity KBO? If teams are interested they must see some change, but Szymborski’s 2019 translation numbers don’t leap out as a must have. Not sure I’d go more than a one year deal as a role player on a contending team or a two year deal as a potential starter for a second-division club. Teams are looking for low-cost deals coming off the pandemic season. Be nice to see him get a shot.
Nice comment with respect to the speed of the ball. That said, most have dreams of making it in the majors and if he can get a shot, he might never get another. It’s just great to hear a positive story.
Yes. He wants that shot at the majors, he’s placed himself in position now to get that chance, and he’ll probably get a few million guaranteed.
The challenge will be of his KBO team offers him a 4/10, but a MLB team offers him a 1/3 or 2/5. What would he do? I say go to MLB and follow his dream. If he flops, he’ll still have a KBO offer waiting a year on.
I wonder which 3 teams are interested?
I’d guess the Blue Jays because they seem to value family connections.
The White Sox need a RF and seem like they’d like the intangibles of MLB family connections.
For my third guess I’ll go with someone kinda bad or middling looking for a low risk/high reward move which doesn’t cost more than $5 mm a year; like the Pirates, Brewers, or Athletics.
Considering Luis Rojas manages the Mets, there’s no better family connection than there. Of course, the Mets really don’t need him so
thanks to tim for not saying, still just 31
A team like Cleveland, Tampa or San Fransisco? Low risk move for say a 2 or 3 year deal.
Cleveland makes a ton of sense. I’d guess Toronto (they must LOVE the MLB family pedigree), Milwaukee (they aren’t hesitant to dip into the KBO), or Oakland.
Rojas is interesting but those power numbers will not translate to the MLB
I mean maybe they will, it’s not like the KBO ball could have much less drag than the new MLB ones
Former Pirate prospect and current KBO star Mel Rojas Jr. is yet another possible target for the White Sox to fill their current hole in RF. The 30-year old switch-hitter put up video game numbers during his 4 year run in South Korea, topping them all with an MVP caliber 2020 season in which he nearly won the KBO triple crown. He’s said to have an arm capable of playing RF and his ability to switch-hit would give the White Sox a third such batter in their lineup along with Yoan Moncada and Yasmani Grandal who currently provide the only lefty bats in their projected 2021 starting lineup.
The Cardinals could use another aaaa outfielder!He couldn’t be worse than Dexter Fowler…
or bader or oneill or thomas or dean or williams
He has Cleveland Indians written all over him. 2 years / $4M with incentives
I’d forgotten what a great player Moises was. The man could flat out hit!
One of my favorites when I was growing up.
LOL! It’s Mount Carmel, not Caramel.
Neil Young should write a song about Mount Caramel. Sequel to Sugar Mountain.
It sounds like a Homer Simpson fantasy.
Ranger should throw out 2/4mil if they trade Gallo.
Why did MLB request Luis to use his surname instead of Alou?
It would be embarrassing for him to be the only one in the family not to make it big in the majors.
Luis bombed out as a hitter in low A ball. In that family, is there any greater embarrassment. You mean you can’t even hit in the low minors?! Mel Jr. is about to play in the Majors and make several million.
I feel like the most he’d get in the KBO would be, what? $3.5M? I think a ton of MLB clubs would give him that without hesitating. He could easily top that on just a one year deal stateside.
I could see him get 1 year/$4M w/ a $1M buyout on a $6M option, or 2 years/$10M and up to 3 years/$17M stateside, which would be almost twice what he could get in the KBO. I realize raw power isn’t as valuable as it might seem on paper and the average isn’t comparable in the KBO vs the MLB because of the different playing styles and other elements but a few clubs would happily give this guy a deal ($4M, $4M, $2M, buyout on $7M club option) that guaranteed him more money.
That said…. why be a relatively low-paid cog in the MLB when you can be a relatively well paid high profile cog in the KBO, where you’re a super star?
I think it is all about tasting Major Leagues for this guy after his disappointing prospect days in the minor lg’s in states. I feel like this guy deserves a 1 year low risk deal, although the Velo here could prove overpowering, risk seems worth it for a 1 year deal. if there is a full season he should have chance to prove himself BUT I feel like those middling squads that would be most interested are also trying to grow their young talent so he would be a “older” rookie…maybe instead of a low to bottom tier team he would be best suited somewhere like CWS, MIL or TB? I would like to see him get a shot.
i Saw The three Alou brothers bat Back to back to bat in a 1983 game against THE METS as CARLTON WILI+EY The curveball right Hander shut all three Alous down in order..
Markakis may retire, Rojas Jr would be worthy of a shot by the Braves as his replacement, low cost and worth the gamble.
Where did you hear that? Granted, Markakis is a FA who didn’t do much last season, but he’s still only 36 and was willing to brave COVID to play after initially balking at the prospect. Doesn’t seem like the sort who would say, “Welp, I hit .254 with 1 homer. Guess I’m done!” I don’t see any news stories mentioning him retiring.
FWIW, I think Rojas is going to have a tough time adjusting to the majors given the huge difference in fastballs, not to mention sliders. MLB players average almost 93mph with their fastballs, and I would guess that bullpens average closer to 95. He’s been feasting on 88-90, like a lot of marginal AAAA players who become stars in the KBO. We have yet to see someone come over this direction from the KBO, like Matsui or Ichiro from Japan, and establish himself as a legit star, and it seems like more players wash out after a year or two than stick here. Dae Ho Lee and Byung Ho Park were absolute beasts in Korea and couldn’t even his AAA pitching here, but went back to being beasts when they returned to the KBO. Of course, Rojas doesn’t have to be a star to be valuable, with the right deal.
Those translated numbers from 2019 put him just about at the MLB average for that year (.252/.323/.435) but that will have been two years ago by the time he debuts in MLB, and it’s an open question if he can even be that good once he gets there.