LOS ANGELES — Miguel Rojas is the Dodgers’ 2025 Roy Campanella Award winner—and for the second straight year, it’s hard to imagine a more fitting choice. Voted on by Dodgers players and coaches, the Campanella honors the teammate who best embodies the Hall of Fame catcher’s spirit, leadership, and resilience. Rojas, 36, has been exactly that: a steady voice in the room, a problem-solver on the field, and a veteran who keeps teammates aligned on the little things that win games.
Asked what it means to go back-to-back, Rojas didn’t make it about himself. “It means a lot. I take a lot of pride in what my teammates and the guys around the clubhouse think about me,” he said. “I always say I’m a server in baseball—I’m here to do whatever is necessary to win. I try not to put myself at the center of attention. I enjoy walking into this clubhouse and providing whatever I can to help the team win and make everybody better.” That ethos—serve first, lead always—is exactly what Campanella’s name on the plaque is meant to celebrate.
Rojas also gave a nod to the people who kept him grounded this season: “Being voted by my teammates and coaches means a lot, especially because I lean on them. Early in the year, I talked with the staff to keep me on pace to be myself and provide what I can as a leader. It’s important to have your teammates on your side and know they have your back—and I’ll have theirs, every time.” The message tracks with how the award is decided: by the people who see the day-to-day work up close.
The Dodgers introduced the Roy Campanella Award in 2006 to honor the player who best exemplifies the late catcher’s “spirit and leadership.” It’s voted on by uniformed personnel—players and coaches—which is why winners often talk about how much the recognition means inside the room. Over the years, the roll call has included multiple repeat honorees: Clayton Kershaw (2013–14), Chase Utley (2016, 2018), Justin Turner (2017, 2019–20), Freddie Freeman (2022), Chris Taylor (2021), and, now, Miguel Rojas (2024–25).
Roy “Campy” Campanella wasn’t just a star; he was a standard. A three-time National League MVP (1951, 1953, 1955) and eight-time All-Star with Brooklyn, Campanella was a key figure of the Dodgers’ golden era and a symbol of perseverance after his 1958 car accident left him paralyzed and ended his playing career. He remained a Dodgers ambassador and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969. The award bearing his name is meant to bottle that mix of competitive fire, clubhouse gravity, and grace.
Rojas’ leadership has shown up in a dozen subtle ways: mentoring young infielders, jumping between positions to plug holes, and nudging the group toward “team at-bats” when the season can turn inward. “We’ve been playing really good baseball the last couple of weeks,” he said. “Sometimes in a long season, people try to find their own way and worry about personal at-bats. Right now we’re playing better baseball, and it’s happening at the right time with October coming.” He added the simple truth that matters most this time of year: “Winning always gives you confidence… At this point it’s not about the process—it’s about the results. That’s what we’re hunting.”
Rojas also reflected on Clayton Kershaw’s emotional farewell moments this week—fitting, since Kershaw himself is a past Campanella winner and a north star for what this award represents. “It was a pretty cool day for the Dodgers, for baseball, and for Kersh,” Rojas said. “We’re happy he’s at peace with his decision. Hopefully we can do something cooler than just winning yesterday—winning the World Series would be a great memory for him to retire on.” He spoke personally, too: their relationship dates to 2014, when Rojas started behind Kershaw in the no-hitter. The memories matter; the daily example matters more.
Awards chosen by teammates hit differently. You don’t win the Campanella by leading the league in a stat; you win it by leading a room—by listening, by holding standards, by doing the unglamorous stuff without flinching. That’s been Rojas’ calling card. And in a franchise that reveres Campy’s legacy, being the first Dodger since Justin Turner to win it in back-to-back seasons says plenty about how the 2025 Dodgers see their veteran shortstop-turned-Swiss-army-knife.
Miguel Rojas didn’t campaign for this. He served for it. That’s why his name—and Campanella’s—fit so well on the same line.
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