As planned, Miguel Rojas played five innings with the Dodgers’ A-ball affiliate in Rancho Cucamonga yesterday, in what looks like it will be the only game of his rehab assignment. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya and other reporters that assuming Rojas came out of that game in good health, the shortstop will be activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Monday’s game with the Phillies.
A left hamstring strain sent Rojas to the IL on April 19, though the strain was one of several nagging lower-body issues that Rojas said had been bothering him since Opening Day. With that in mind, this IL stint could be something of a reset to get Rojas both physically and mentally on track, considering his tough start to the season. Over his first 35 plate appearances, Rojas had hit only .125/.200/.156, resulting in a rare negative OPS+ total of -2.
Rojas’ struggles carried a greater import considering that he went into the year as the Dodgers’ de facto everyday shortstop, due to the torn ACL that prematurely ended Gavin Lux’s season in Spring Training. Los Angeles acquired Rojas in an offseason trade with the Marlins to add some veteran depth behind Lux, though the Dodgers didn’t expect Rojas to be taking on a regular role in such sudden fashion.
Unsurprisingly, Roberts said that Rojas wouldn’t be resuming everyday shortstop duties when he does return, and L.A. will continue to give Chris Taylor and Mookie Betts time at the position. Taylor has also been ice-cold at the plate and even Betts is batting well below his usual superstar standard, but for now, the Dodgers don’t have a lot of options at shortstop. While Rojas wasn’t known for his bat during his time in Miami, even getting close to league-average offense (like the 96 wRC+ Rojas posted in 2021) would help the Dodgers in getting their lineup at least somewhat closer to its usual alignment.
125/.200/.156
Take as long as you need to, Miggy.
Ct3 has 5 bombs and still has an OPS+ of 55
Wow
Oh but that launch angle!!
Will be good to get Miggy back – it’s one step closer to not having to scratch together a lineup each day. They’ve done well to move a lot of pieces around and cover the injuries and paternity leave.
Mookie will be fine. He got off to a slow start last year, and then went off in May. He’s got a 104 OPS+ so far – so his scuffling is still above average.
For all the doom and gloom around the Dodgers this year, they’re still in first place. Dodgers fans – relax.
The next Dodger expected to hit the paternity leave list is Ferguson. That would make four by my count in just the last few weeks. The Stone promotion probably won’t be made official until they know if they’ll need to make a roster move.
As for the fans relaxing, I think we all have to know this is the weakest Dodger roster in the last ten years or so. Their record wouldn’t put them in first place in any other division and it’s hard to find any area of strength that suggests their record will get better. It is what it is, and unless something changes, that’s what it will be.
It doesn’t really matter if they aren’t as good. You just have to make it in and get hot.
Aren’t as good as what?
Aren’t as good as they were. They shouldn’t be compared to former Dodger team, they should be compared to the league, and they are still one of the few teams in the NL with a positive run diff. They’re also tied for first.
Actually it would be five (Graterol, Muncy, Betts, Phillips and Ferguson) and technically six if you count Cody Bellinger to the list.
Five it is. Must be some kind of record.
But I don’t know why you’d count Bellinger. Because, you know.
Gavin Stone can be horrible and still be better than Syndergaard, so there’s that.
It’s actually not hard to look at the bullpen and realize that it’s not performing like it has in the past. Cheer up friend! The roster is much better than you’re implying. Look at the entire 40-man.
Busch headed back to the Busch leagues.
I think the dodgers need Farhan back
#HireFarhan?
They have before