MARCH 31: The Angels announced they’ve selected the contracts of Rojas and outfielder Juan Lagares. To create 40-man roster space, right-hander Kyle Keller was designated for assignment, while Barreto was placed on the 60-day injured list.
MARCH 27: The Angels have informed José Rojas that he’ll make the Opening Day roster, manager Joe Maddon announced to reporters (including Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register). The club will need to formally select him to the 40-man but has an available roster spot to do so. The 28-year-old is now in line to make his major league debut.
Rojas has made a rather remarkable ascent over the past few weeks. A former 36th-round draft pick, the left-handed hitting infielder only once made Baseball America’s ranking of Los Angeles’ top 30 prospects (coming in at 28th entering 2019). The Anaheim native earned himself a Spring Training invitation this year with strong career numbers at both Double-A (.277/.339/.486) and Triple-A (.284/.347/.539).
He has absolutely torn the cover off the ball this spring. Over 41 plate appearances, Rojas has mashed at a .333/.488/.667 clip. Spring Training statistics aren’t always reliable indicators of a player’s true talent, but Rojas apparently impressed Angels’ brass on an everyday basis. Franklin Barreto’s season-opening injured list stint partially opened the door for Rojas to claim a utility job, but he also simply outplayed Luis Rengifo. Rojas will now back up the Angels’ infield group of Anthony Rendon, José Iglesias, David Fletcher and Jared Walsh/Albert Pujols.
He deserves it. I love baseball stories like this. A late round draft pick who makes his major league debut in his late 20s.
Good luck to him.
7 year minor career. he must love playing baseball.
How does someone drafted in 2016 have a 7 year minor league career? Only 4 years in the minors. Mike Piazza spent 4 years in the minors and was drafted in the 62nd round. If Rojas can hit, he’ll be fine
you are right. i don’t know where i got that 7 years from.
Great story and drive.
Icing on top – From Anaheim.
I hope he has a long MLB career !
He really has earned his keep in Spring. Love to see it, after years of grinding the guy gets his shot. Excited to see if he can keep it up, wish him the best.
Great story. And from his perspective, unlike most players, he’ll earn higher than average money for the first time and on his first day be eligible for MLB health benefits the entire year. Things regular people think about.
How many days on the MLB roster does he have to accrue to get that? I’m hoping he gets there!
u.s. army captain must make more than you do. and with great ‘insurance’ and benefits. college grad engineers probably make more than you do. who are regular people? people with no talent? or people that ignored education?
Did you not just comment that that Rojas has been in the minors for 7 years? Maybe you should brush up on your math before you try to get back at the kids who bullied you in the hallways nerd. Gooo Angels!
@Vizionaire I don’t understand what you’re on about. Who’s “you”? What does an army captain have to do with anything?
Vizionaire, what are you talking about? The MLB minimum salary is $570,500. That’s $93,083/mo, all much higher than the national mean. And MLB benefits are much better than in the Minors. You need one day to qualify. And BTW, don’t criticize people for the money they make. I’d never say it but I don’t like your superior comment: I’m sure I make a lot more than you. What you wrote is in poor taste.
At salt lake he hit 31 home runs the last minor league season. Yeah let’s see what this kid can do!
A tip o’ the cap and Godspeed!
He tore the cover off the ball in ‘19, but I cant see him getting a lot of playing time with both Walsh and Pujols.
I can see him getting more playing time if he starts off hot and Walsh struggles to begin the season. Since he can also play 1B.
Pujols gets hurt, book it
Rojas can play 1B, 2B, 3B, and OF.
Cannot wait to see Rojas! What a cool story and to be a local kid playing for his hometown team. Real life Angels In The Outfield!
Nice feel good story to kick off this exciting opening day. Opening day should be a holiday, just like the day after the Super Bowl. Let’s go!
I used to “work from home” every opening day for seven years lol
Angels fans better pray that Trout stays healthy all season. Could you imagine trotting out a lineup with Dexter Fowler AND Juan Lagares…
Imagine wanting to talk smack about what a team’s lineup could look like after an injury when your own team will be starting Hunter Renfroe and Franchy Cordero as part of the regular lineup.. Renfroe hasn’t hit since 2018, and he’s never hit for average or gotten on base (career OBP of .290 as a corner OFer, lol).. Franchy is pretty much more of the same only he brings the added benefit that he’s never met a ball he can’t misplay and still the Bosox brain trust wants to put him in front of the green monster..
Triggered much?
Great for Rojas. He deserved a call up in 19, I thought.
Legares clearly played his way into the team. Meanwhile Fowler should’ve played his way off the team. Hopefully this failed experiment doesn’t last too long.
When you have the greatest player in the game roaming center field, the Angels can have players declining in production like Upton and Flower in the corners. Upton was a bad extension from the go. Eppler and the Angels were not able to bring in their big free agent that off season so they overpaid to keep Upton around. Fowler is basically being paid by the Cards and Joe values him in the clubhouse as he had him with the cubs world series team. Rendon has mentioned he hasn’t got a chance to really meet the team yet, so one can see how Fowler can be a positive clubhouse presence. Albert was great. We paid Pujols to see him hit career milestones. Being it’s well know the guy is actually 44, even slipped by him during a interview years back, they need to let Walsh and Rojas play everyday. They can use Rojas all over the diamond if he can stay consistent. Like how Chris Taylor never has a full time position but plays every day. I’m guessing Lagares defense is still there and valued more than the potential pop from Shebler (30Hr ’17) even though he also can play CF. Goo Angels!