Rojas continues to deal with wrist but returns to Marlins lineup in series opener vs Braves
One game after being scratched due to right wrist discomfort, shortstop Miguel Rojas was back in the starting lineup for the Miami Marlins on Friday as they began a three-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Truist Park.
Exactly how often Rojas will be in the starting lineup over the final month of the season is to be determined, but one thing is clear: Rojas plans to play as often as his wrist allows him.
“I just want to make sure this is something that don’t let escalate,” Rojas said Wednesday, “but I’m going to try to play. ... After the season is over, I’ll take the recommendation from the doctor, but I feel like I’m capable of playing.”
Rojas said he has been dealing with the wrist since just after the All-Star Break. He sat two games in Cincinnati in late July due to it but has been playing through the injury for the most part.
“It’s probably going to be something he’s just going to deal with the rest of the year,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “It’s been off and on all year long. Hopefully, it’s something we can stay on top of, give him some rest, try to work out off days when we have it.”
Rojas entered Friday hitting .230 with a .601 on-base-plus-slugging mark, six home runs, 31 RBI, nine stolen bases and 32 runs scored in 113 games.
But Rojas’ strength this season, as has been the case his whole career, has been his glove and he has himself in position to be a contender to win his first Gold Glove Award this year after being a finalist in the shortened 2020 season.
His 10 defensive runs saved according to FanGraphs are tied for fourth among shortstops with the New York Yankees’ Isiah Kiner-Falefa, trailing only the Chicago Cubs’ Nico Hoerner (13), Houston Astros’ Jeremy Pena (13) and the Los Angeles Angels’ Andrew Velazquez. His seven outs above average according to Statcast ranks sixth in the majors among shortstops.
“He’s been pretty good,” Mattingly said, “but in general, we’re not playing him because of that. He wants to play. We want to work through it. He wants to finish the season. Everybody seems on board with that.”
On days that Rojas doesn’t play, Joey Wendle (who primarily plays second base and third base) has been Miami’s primary option to start at shortstop. Jon Berti, Charles Leblanc and Luke Williams round out the rest of the Marlins’ infield options, with the trio generally playing second base and third base. Brian Anderson also plays third base, but the Marlins have opted to mainly use him in right field since he returned from his latest injured list stint.
Call ups
With MLB rosters on Thursday expanding to 28 players (with a cap of 14 pitchers), the Marlins recalled outfielder Bryan De La Cruz and right-handed pitcher Jeff Brigham.
De La Cruz was on the Marlins’ Opening Day roster but hit just .205 over 90 games. Miami optioned him to Triple A Jacksonville on Aug. 12. In 13 games with the Jumbo Shrimp, De La Cruz posted a .320 batting average with three doubles, four home runs, 10 RBI and 10 runs scored in 54 plate appearances. This included five games starting in left field, four games in center field and three games in right field during which span he committed just one error in 27 chances and recorded three outfield assists.
Brigham, who made his MLB return earlier this season after nearly a two-year injury hiatus, has a 3.72 ERA with 10 strikeouts over 9 2/3 innings in five relief appearances.
Injury updates
▪ Berti, who exited Wednesday’s game with a hip injury, was not in the lineup Friday and is still undergoing evaluation by the Marlins’ medical staff.
▪ Left-handed pitcher Braxton Garrett (right oblique strain) threw a bullpen session on Thursday and is scheduled to pitch in a simulated game on Saturday. Outfielder Jorge Soler (low back spasms) is scheduled to face Garrett in that simulated game.
▪ Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez is completing shoulder strengthening activities.
▪ An MRI on Daniel Castano’s left shoulder revealed a small tear near the top of his shoulder. Therapy is the recommended course of action.
▪ Right-handed pitcher Anthony Bender will head to Jupiter next week to begin his post-Tommy John surgery rehab.
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