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José Rojas (baseball)

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José Rojas
Rojas with the Salt Lake Bees in 2022
Free agent
Outfielder / Infielder
Born: (1993-02-24) February 24, 1993 (age 31)
Anaheim, California, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
Professional debut
MLB: April 2, 2021, for the Los Angeles Angels
KBO: April 1, 2023, for the Doosan Bears
MLB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.188
Home runs6
Runs batted in16
KBO statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.253
Home runs19
Runs batted in65
Teams

José Rojas (born February 24, 1993) is an American professional baseball outfielder and infielder who is a free agent. He attended Fullerton College and Vanguard University. Rojas was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 36th round of the 2016 MLB draft, and made his MLB debut with them in 2021. He has also played in the KBO League for the Doosan Bears.

Amateur career

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Rojas attended Anaheim High School in Anaheim, California.[1] Undrafted out of high school, Rojas attended Fullerton College in Fullerton, California for two years (2013 and 2014).[2] He then transferred to Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California for his final two years (2015 and 2016) of college baseball.[3] Rojas was selected by the Los Angeles Angels in the 36th round, with the 1086th overall selection, of the 2016 MLB draft.[4][5]

Professional career

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Los Angeles Angels

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Rojas made his professional debut in 2016 with the Orem Owlz, hitting .308/.372/.471/.843 with five home runs and 31 RBI.[6] He split the 2017 season between the Inland Empire 66ers and the Mobile BayBears, combining to hit .286/.321/.438/.759 with 11 home runs and 70 RBI.[2]

Rojas split the 2018 season between Mobile and the Salt Lake Bees, hitting a combined .289/.355/.501/.856 with 17 home runs and 71 RBI.[7] He was assigned back to Salt Lake for the 2019 season,[7][8] slashing .293/.362/.577 with 101 runs (2nd in the league), 39 doubles (2nd), 7 triples (3rd), 31 home runs (5th), 107 RBIs (leading the league), and 141 strikeouts (5th) over 126 games. Rojas did not play at all in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On March 31, 2021, the Angels selected Rojas to the 40-man roster.[9] He made his major league debut on April 2, pinch hitting for Max Stassi. On April 14, Rojas recorded his first major league hit off of Kansas City Royals pitcher Tyler Zuber. In 216 at bats in AAA, he hit .259/.328/.431.

On May 23, 2022, Rojas was designated for assignment.[10] On May 30, Rojas cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Salt Lake.[11] On August 2, the Angels selected his contract from Salt Lake. On September 1, Rojas was again designated for assignment. In 280 at bats in AAA, he batted .275/.350/.571.

In his career in the major leagues with the Angels, he played 31 games in right field, 24 games at third base, 14 games at second base, 10 games in left field, and 2 games at first base. In 224 at bats, he hit .188/.245/.339.

San Francisco Giants

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On September 4, 2022, Rojas was claimed off waivers by the San Francisco Giants. In 7 games for the Triple–A Sacramento River Cats, he went 7–for–27 (.259) with 2 home runs and 2 RBI. On September 16, Rojas was designated for assignment by the Giants following the waiver claim of Taylor Jones.[12] On September 18, he elected free agency in lieu of an outright assignment.[13]

Doosan Bears

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On October 26, 2022, Rojas signed a one-year deal with the Doosan Bears of the KBO League.[14] Rojas made his KBO debut as the starting right fielder on April 1, 2023. In the game Rojas hit a walk-off three-run home run off of Moon Kyeong-chan to seal a 12-10 victory over the Lotte Giants.[15]

New York Yankees

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On January 18, 2024, Rojas signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees.[16] He was released by the Yankees on June 4, but re-signed with the organization on June 9.[17] In 67 games for the Triple–A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, he batted .254/.359/.561 with 18 home runs and 57 RBI. Rojas was released again on July 14.[18]

Pittsburgh Pirates

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On July 25, 2024, Rojas signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates.[19] In 15 games for the Triple–A Indianapolis Indians, he batted .192/.288/.423 with three home runs and six RBI. Rojas was released by the Pirates organization on September 2.[20]

References

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  1. ^ David Rice (June 16, 2017). "The LA Angels place three on California League All-Star team". Halo Hangout. FanSided. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  2. ^ a b Josh Jackson (January 15, 2018). "Underdog Rojas on rise with hometown Angels". MiLB.com. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Barry Faulkner (May 20, 2015). "College Baseball: Vanguard's Rojas in the comfort zone". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  4. ^ Vanguard Lions (June 15, 2016). "Isaac and Rojas drafted by Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim". vanguardlions.com. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  5. ^ Steve Fryer (June 11, 2016). "List: OC players selected in MLB Draft". The Orange County Register. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  6. ^ Darnell Dickson (July 6, 2016). "Orem Owlz: Rojas has big night in Game 1 win against Grand Junction". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Trent Wood (July 2, 2019). "'It is surreal': Jose Rojas drawing near to his lifelong dream while playing for the Salt Lake Bees". Deseret News. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  8. ^ Blake Richardson (March 15, 2019). "Brad Ausmus impressed with Angels prospect Jose Rojas: 'He's been tearing the cover off the ball'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  9. ^ "Jose Rojas to Make Angels' Opening Day Roster". March 31, 2021.
  10. ^ Fioresi, Dean (May 23, 2022). "Angels designate utility man Jose Rojas for assignment". CBS News - Los Angeles.
  11. ^ RotoWire Staff (May 30, 2022). "Angels' Jose Rojas: Clears waivers". CBS Sports.
  12. ^ "Giants' Jose Rojas: Dropped from 40-man". cbssports.com. September 16, 2022. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
  13. ^ Delucchi, Marc (September 18, 2022). "SF Giants acquire former A's starter Jharel Cotton off waivers". Sports Illustrated. Separately, recently claimed infielder José Rojas cleared waivers and was offered the chance to stay in the organization but opted to become a free agent.
  14. ^ "KBO's Bears sign new foreign hitter Jose Rojas". The Korea Times. October 26, 2022.
  15. ^ "Bears walk off on Giants on KBO opening day". The Korea Times. April 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  16. ^ https://twitter.com/jonmorosi/status/1748038956908720442 [bare URL]
  17. ^ "Jose Rojas Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News". milb.com. Retrieved June 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Transactions".
  19. ^ "Pirates, Jose Rojas Agree To Minor League Deal". mlbtraderumors. July 25, 2024. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  20. ^ "Pirates Release Jose Rojas". mlbtraderumors.com. Retrieved September 7, 2024.
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