It has been three months since Miguel Rojas rescued the Dodgers’ 2025 season.
And nonetheless, the thanks’s from followers haven’t stopped coming.
“It’s been overwhelming,” Rojas stated. “Like in Italy (throughout trip this offseason), I’m strolling round Rome and I’m seeing Dodgers followers over there saying, ‘Thanks for hitting that residence run.’ It’s loopy.”
The Dodgers, in fact, had many heroes emerge of their trek to a second consecutive World Sequence title final fall. There was the World Sequence-MVP effort of Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The 2-way showcase placed on by Shohei Ohtani. The 4 scoreless innings that little-known reliever Will Klein produced in a marathon Recreation 3 victory within the Fall Traditional. The sport-winning extra-inning residence runs Freddie Freeman and Will Smith hit in Video games 3 and seven, respectively. The checklist goes on.
Nobody, nevertheless, had a second as unforgettable (or sudden) as Rojas.
When he got here to the plate within the ninth inning of Recreation 7 final yr, the Dodgers had been two outs from defeat, and on the cusp of a merciless ending to their repeat title desires. At that time, Rojas himself wasn’t even 100% wholesome, enjoying by means of a facet harm that had practically sidelined him for the winner-take-all event that night time at Rogers Centre.
But, when Jeff Hoffman hung him a two-strike slider, the 12-year veteran didn’t miss it.
“I simply felt like all the pieces that occurred, occurred for a motive,” Rojas stated three months later. “And I used to be prepared for the chance.”
Certainly, Rojas not solely saved the Dodgers along with his game-tying residence run –– which was so beautiful, Fox broadcaster Joe Davis may solely utter “No means!” because the sometimes light-hitting, glove-first infielder rounded the bases. However Rojas additionally etched his identify into immortal October historical past, going from an often-overlooked veteran contributor on the Dodgers’ star-studded roster, to some of the celebrated and recognizable faces of a staff that may go on to raise the Commissioner’s Trophy and cement a modern-day dynasty.
“Now,” Rojas joked, “I simply must reside with the results.”
Rojas felt all that love anew on Saturday, receiving among the loudest crowd ovations in the course of the Dodgers’ annual Fanfest occasion at Chavez Ravine. And forward of what would be the remaining season of his MLB profession, he has embraced his sudden superstar along with his personal sentimental gratitude, appreciative of each encounter (at residence and overseas) he’s had with Dodger followers over the course of what he described as a life-changing offseason.
“An important half is that everyone continues to say that that’s top-of-the-line moments that they’ve had of their life, and one of the best second of sports activities that they watched,” he stated. “That makes me really feel actually good, as a result of we had been a part of one thing larger than only a residence run for ourselves.”
On Saturday, Rojas was fast to notice that he’s “not finished but,” after re-signing with the Dodgers on a $5.5 million free-agent deal early within the offseason. Regardless of final fall’s heroics, “I’ve to proceed to show myself and show to all people that I can nonetheless play,” he stated.
However, he does already know what his longer-term future holds, having additionally struck an settlement in his new contract to stick with the Dodgers group in a participant growth function as soon as he formally retires.
“I need to be a coach, however possibly I’m going to be good at one thing else,” he stated. “That’s one thing that I need to understand about myself. Coach slightly little bit of all the pieces. TV possibly. Work within the entrance workplace slightly bit with Andrew and firm. And undoubtedly study slightly bit from extra from Doc and what they worth as a staff, as a participant.”
For now, nevertheless, he’s blissful to maintain basking within the glory of his momentous residence run final yr –– one which saved the Dodgers’ season, elevated his stature and got here with loads of thanks’s that gained’t cease anytime quickly.
“I waited 20 years in skilled baseball to have that second, and it occurs to me on the finish of my profession,” he stated. “I imply, my life modified rather a lot. Particularly the best way I’ve been seen on the streets and out of doors of baseball, it’s simply one thing completely different (that has) occurred to my profession and my life. However I’m not gonna step away from it. It’s one thing that I all the time needed … Positively gonna share these moments without end.”
Dodgers shuffle roster
The Dodgers made a notable roster transfer this week, designating infielder Andy Ibáñez for project lower than a month after signing him to a $1.2 million free-agent deal, and claiming outfielder Mike Siani off waivers simply two weeks after DFA’ing him.
Ibáñez was anticipated to supply the Dodgers with infield depth, particularly in the beginning of the season if Tommy Edman isn’t initially able to return from offseason ankle surgical procedure. He may nonetheless persist with the group going ahead, however will now must clear waivers first.
Siani returns to the Dodgers after being DFA’d to make room for Kyle Tucker’s signing in mid-January. He had been claimed by the Yankees, however was shortly DFA’d once more by New York this previous week.
