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Phillies Option Johan Rojas

By Darragh McDonald | June 17, 2024 at 2:35pm CDT

The Phillies announced today that shortstop Trea Turner has been reinstated from the injured list, a move that was reported over the weekend. To open a roster spot for Turner, outfielder Johan Rojas was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Rojas, now 23, was promoted to the majors last summer from Double-A, skipping over the Triple-A level. He had long been a notable prospect thanks to his speed and defense, and he definitely showed those traits in the second half of the 2023 season. He stole 14 bases in 15 attempts while also being credited with 15 Defensive Runs Saved and six Outs Above Average in center field.

That was a key development for the Phillies, as they had some defensive challenges, particularly in the outfield. Bryce Harper was returning from Tommy John surgery last year and was able to come back as a designated hitter before being able to play the field. That left the Phils with Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos, who are both considered subpar defenders, in the outfield corners most days.

On top of those contributions, the offense from Rojas was better than expected. Rojas struck out in 25.6% of his plate appearances and only walked at a 3% clip, but he managed to slash .302/.342/.430 for a wRC+ of 109. That was largely held up by an unsustainable .410 batting average on balls in play, but any offense was likely considered a nice bonus by the Phillies, since they largely wanted Rojas out there for his glove.

That performance earned Rojas a chance to take the everyday center field job this year, but it has not gone well. He has reduced his strikeout rate to 15.8% but his batted ball luck has disappeared. He has a .273 BABIP on the year and still isn’t drawing walks, leading to a .235/.271/.295 line and 62 wRC+. Bizarrely, his defense has also regressed, with tallies of +1 DRS and +2 OAA so far this year.

The Phils are having a great season, currently sporting a record of 47-24 that has them atop the National League, but the outfield has been their primary weak spot. Rojas has been a part of that but Castellanos, Whit Merrifield and Cristian Pache are also having rough seasons while Brandon Marsh spent some time on the injured list with a hamstring strain. David Dahl was called up to help out and has looked good, but in a small sample of eight games after several years of injury-related struggles.

Rojas and Marsh are the only two players in that group who can be optioned to the minor leagues. Marsh is now off the IL and is having a good season overall, leaving Rojas as the odd man out. He’ll head to Triple-A for the first time and try to get back on track.

The Phils have plenty of justification for making this move based on the lack of performance from Rojas this year, but it’s possible that it will impact him from a service time perspective. He got 80 days of service last year, putting him 92 shy of the one-year mark. He has banked 81 so far this year, meaning he’s still just under that line. He should be able to get back over if he’s recalled at any point but his potential free agency could be pushed back if he stays down for the rest of the year.

For the Phillies, they will now proceed with some combination of Castellanos, Marsh, Pache, Merrifield and Dahl in the outfield. The return of Turner could also perhaps push Edmundo Sosa into that mix, as he has a small amount of outfield experience and was hitting well in covering for Turner. Marsh and Dahl hit from the left side while those other outfield options are righties, perhaps allowing the club to use platoons to get everyone into the lineup.

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Philadelphia Phillies Johan Rojas Trea Turner

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46 Comments

  1. DarkSide830

    1 year ago

    The right move.

    4
    Reply
    • Heels On The Field

      1 year ago

      “Push back his free agency”

      ROFLOL!

      Rojas might be a “free agent” this winter. Hits like a girl.

      Reply
      • kabphillie

        1 year ago

        What does a girl hit like? Softball players hit pretty hard. Female tennis players would knock your block off with a serve.

        3
        Reply
        • harrycracks 77

          1 year ago

          Geez lol pretty big difference in speed

          Reply
  2. Never Remember

    1 year ago

    So stupid. This is what happens when you have an idiot manager who only wants old white guys and refuses to sit Nick

    Reply
    • Philly 6

      1 year ago

      It’s the right move for now while he gets more at bats in the minors to get this confidence up. The only guy that had options. They are not benching Casty. And besides, we have no idea what Dombrowski is up to but all signs point to an outfield upgrade coming via trade. And I believe that Merrifield has to start hitting better with more regular playing time.

      3
      Reply
    • jdizzle ATL Braves

      1 year ago

      STFU about race bro. Who cares what skin color they are.

      9
      Reply
    • VonPurpleHayes

      1 year ago

      This post is uneducated. Rojas has no usable bat. Pache is out of options. Castellanos has nothing to do with it. He was never going to be released. His bat is frustrating, but has more potential than Rojas. It was between Rojas, Pache and Dahl.

      2
      Reply
    • Johnny Devil

      1 year ago

      Tttterrrriiiiibbbblllee ccccooommmmeèeent. Iii sssssttttuttter to fffffbbbbb. Sssooooo sssaaaadddd yyyyyooou aaaarrre aa raaaccciisst.

      Reply
    • libertybell444

      1 year ago

      I agree with the sit nick or at least platoon him with Dahl or Clemens (when he returns) to create favorable matchups but Tojas is who he is. He’s not the .302 hitter from last year in August and September. He’s more of a subpar hitter he proved to be in the playoffs last year. This season, he’s had spurts but nothing consistent so, he’s the odd man out and he’s young enough to maybe improve. If he’s Ben Revere one day great but he’s not as good as Sil Campusano at the plate right now. Pache or the reliever Ruiz are next when Clemens returns.

      Reply
      • FrontRowBob

        1 year ago

        You can add Edmundo Sosa to the list as well. He has been shagging balls in the OF and plan to play him out there now and then to get him plate appearances now that Turner is back. I don’t think Nick will loose a lot of time….but he may lose some.

        Reply
    • harrycracks 77

      1 year ago

      Fffbbb very fragile mindset — tell me you know nothing at sports again. It’s pretty funny.

      Reply
    • twiker

      1 year ago

      Dumb

      Reply
  3. TheDayMILBDied

    1 year ago

    Absolutely the right move.. Not even for his offense. Look at his overall defensive numbers. A disappointment to say the least. Hopefully some time in AAA will be beneficial for all parties.

    3
    Reply
    • libertybell444

      1 year ago

      Yeah, the smoke screen claiming he’s a defense wiz cleared pretty quickly. He made some nice plays but I saw him make some dumb ones too. Bottom line if you can hit, they can find a place for you to play. If you can’t hit, your defense doesn’t get you on the field in the MLB.

      Reply
      • libertybell444

        1 year ago

        Catchers are the exception to the can’t hit but play great defense bc the position is so important.

        Reply
  4. whosehighpitch

    1 year ago

    Here’s hoping he is part of a major trade. He is a real life version of Willie Mays Hayes. No offensive clue 90 percent of the time and for how highly touted he was defensively he has a lot to prove in a Pigs uniform

    1
    Reply
  5. AC Surf Baseball

    1 year ago

    This was the right move to make. They can’t even use Rojas as a platoon bat vs. lefties because he’s batting under a buck vs LHP of close to it. I’ve never seen a young player regress this much defensively- we’ve all seen pitchers adjust to young hitters, causing a sophomore slump. But the defensive drop off is inexplicable. Would try to package Rojas with Mick Abel, Samuel Aldegheri and/or George Klassen to make a run at Mason Miller & JJ Bleday. Or perhaps Luis Robert & Michael Kopech, maybe Jazz Chisholm & Tanner Scott. That would be 3 organizational top 10 prospects (including a top 60 overall) and a young, fast CF. Plus we could “throw in” slugging 1B Daarick Hall & out of options Simon Mizzuiotti. When you consider the phenomenal start that Aldegheri & Klassen have gotten off to this year, I think that at least gets a conversation started. The injuries and minor holes in this roster showed on that road trip.

    2
    Reply
    • Johnny Devil

      1 year ago

      The philles need a right handed power bat in the outfield. The philles miss Hoskins power. The lineup is unbalanced. No power outside Harper and Kyle. Alvarado is not a legitimate closer.

      Reply
      • kabphillie

        1 year ago

        There are multiple players who can handle late innings so the need for a true closer is overstated. Casty can hit home runs if he doesn’t chase bad pitches. Hoskins has the same kind of bat but walks a bit more. That’s not what this team needs.

        2
        Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          Purple you are living in a philles rose color fan perspective and always have. Alvarado is not the answer and never has been. You probably believe Soto and ruiz are serviceable pieces. Walker is a legitimate number 4 and the philles don’t need a right handed power bat.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          Who ??? Dominguez bwa…Hoffman bwa bwa..Soto ..bwaaaaaaa.. casty hasn’t stopped chasing bad pitches since the day he signed his philles contract. And if you don’t know the philles miss Hoskins right handed power you should self flag.

          Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          1 year ago

          The Phillies absolutely need an OF bat. They are getting very little offense from their OF aside from Alvarado. I consider Walker a serviceable #5. Sanchez is an excellent #4. Alvarado has been excellent. I have no idea what you’re talking about. Soto isn’t great.

          OF has to be the priority with a bullpen upgrade being the 2nd move. They don’t necessarily need a closer, but more depth would help. Soto and Ruiz are the weak spots. Alvarado. Strahm, Kekering and Dominguez are solid.

          2
          Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          1 year ago

          Hoffman bwa bwa is having a pretty nice season. Great DD pickup.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          Walker slots 4 in this rotation. Alvarado excellent is a massive reach my friend. Alvarado is not a outfielder. Sanchez is 5 in the philles rotation. Do you actually watch this team on a game to game basis? I do my philles fan. In fact since 1970. Von Hayes was a favorite of mine but you are soiling his name with your misinformation on basic facts. Understandable why you have no idea what I am talking about.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          Bert My reference to Hoffman was in regards to closer. Dumbrowski needs to give his manager a legitimate closer before Thompson burns out his bullpen by July. You sir are dismissed.

          Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          1 year ago

          Thanks, Kong! Also, you really should place a comma between ‘sir’ and ‘are’, buddy.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          My pleasure Bert. Always enjoy educating .

          Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          1 year ago

          Work on your comma placement, Dong. I’m here to help.

          Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          1 year ago

          Should have read besides Marsh. Typing on the phone.

          There’s no misinformation. Alvarado has been very good outside of 2 or 3 bad outings. I’ll take that any day. It wasn’t too long ago the Phillies had one of the worst bullpens I’m history. This 24 bullpen is pretty great. They just need depth to replace Soto or Ruiz. Alvarado is fine. Any team would love to have him.

          I think we can win it all with this bullpen. I think we need a better OF bat. If we can get that bat and still add bullpen depth, all the better.

          As a fan since the 70s, you should understand that this Phillies team is on pace to be one of the if not the best of all time. So maybe you should complain less. Just a thought. I don’t know what more you could possibly want as a fan right now. Obviously a deep playoff run, but we’re in June. The Phillies are doing everything right. There are flaws and hiccups, but Alvarado is not one of them. Soto? Yup. Ruiz? Yup. Rojas? Yup. Castellanos? Yup.

          2
          Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          1 year ago

          I think with some confidence, Ruiz might turn into a very reliable bullpen arm. Topper is giving him a shot, and hopefully it’ll pay off.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          Jerkis self mute is in order.

          Reply
        • Johnny Devil

          1 year ago

          Purple to many yups to all my valid points and to many excuses from you. Obviously I am a rabid philles fan who knows what his team lacks and needs . Facts are this team Will not win a ring as constructed. Fact is not enough power from the right side. Unbalanced lineup Bullpen lacks closer. Thompson will burn his Bullpen out by July at this rate. I want a 280 million dollar payroll to produce a ring .

          Reply
        • Bart Harley Jarvis

          1 year ago

          Just about to mute you, Donger. Thanks for the recommendation.

          Reply
      • whosehighpitch

        1 year ago

        Alvarado is not a legitimate AAA closer

        Reply
        • VonPurpleHayes

          1 year ago

          Alvarado has been great. One or two rough outings, but otherwise excellent.

          2
          Reply
    • libertybell444

      1 year ago

      I think Luis Robert and Kopech would be the balance you mention.

      Reply
    • Phillls

      1 year ago

      No to all 3 of those trades. Give up the farm and future for Miller, just because he has had A WHOLE good 3 months?? What’s his track record? Does he have years of success? He’s just arm injuries and surgery waiting to happen.
      Luis Robert could challenge the Roman Quinn record for most times on the DL and games lost.
      Jazz Chisholm? You must be the only fan in Philadelphia who wants him

      Reply
  6. User 4014041831

    1 year ago

    PHI still looking for a C? Marchan was brought up from AAA, correct?

    Realmuto is gonna be out more than a month. C’mon

    2
    Reply
    • DarkSide830

      1 year ago

      They want a catcher for AAA as insurance. Like a MiLB fa type.

      4
      Reply
    • kje76

      1 year ago

      Marchan was brought up, and was impressive last night, but tends to be a bit on the fragile side. The countdown to the next injury likely has started. The Phils definitely need a reasonable insurance policy.

      Reply
  7. leftcoaster

    1 year ago

    As a roto owner of Wheeler, Sanchez and Suarez I’m not too pleased with this demotion. They should’ve conferred with me before making this move.

    1
    Reply
  8. Cincyfan85

    1 year ago

    One of the top All-Star Game NL OF in votes?… the All-Star game is a joke.

    Reply
  9. cpdpoet

    1 year ago

    Political b.s.
    Please….

    Vote for “comments closed”

    3
    Reply
  10. Jam11163

    1 year ago

    Bone head has to bring race into the thread. SMH.

    2
    Reply
  11. n888

    1 year ago

    Pache has only been given 64 AB, kinda unfair to call that a “rough” season when he’s barely even gotten a chance.

    1
    Reply

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