Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — Dodgers shortstop Miguel Rojas is back on the World Series roster after missing the NLCS due to an aggravated injury he sustained in the NLDS. The time off allowed him to rest and prepare for the final series of the season, and now, he’s eager to contribute to his team on the field.
Rojas shared his thoughts on how sitting out during the last series helped him get ready. “Last round, staying out of it, I think it helped me a lot to work hard to be the best that I can at this position,” he said. “It took me a couple of days to kind of like not do anything, trying to give my leg a rest, and then after that, I was working hard on trying to feel better as best as I can to catch ground balls, move around well at shortstop.”
While Rojas acknowledged the difficulty of being sidelined, he understood the decision. “It’s always tough, you know, you want to be on the field, you want to contribute, you want to be in the lineup and helping the team win on the field,” he said. “But I feel like to win games and to be a championship team, you have to kind of understand you’ve got to trust your teammates.” He added that his injury at the time wouldn’t have allowed him to help the team as much as they needed. “Carrying another pitcher was important,” he said, noting that adding an extra pitcher and keeping Kiké Hernández on the roster was necessary for defensive versatility.
Rojas has dealt with his injury for months and was uncertain if he would make it back for the World Series. “There were days in September I couldn’t walk,” he explained. “I was pretty sure that I couldn’t play short and had to step out of the lineup and be off for two or three days.” However, his hard work paid off, and now he’s feeling more confident. “I feel better right now than I was when I was playing in September,” he said. “In September, my leg was really bothering me, but I pushed through because I knew the team was close to making the playoffs.”
The experience has been a reminder of the unpredictability of playing through injuries. Rojas noted, “With these injuries being kind of day to day, sometimes I feel really good, sometimes I feel like I can’t really walk. That’s the kind of balance I’ve been going through.”
Looking ahead to the offseason, Rojas plans to undergo surgery to repair the injury fully. “It’s a sports hernia surgery,” he explained. “I’m going to get in contact with the doctor in Philadelphia who did it for Kiké Hernández last offseason. I heard Starling Marte from the Mets had it, too, and I talked to Derek Jeter a couple of days ago; he had it.” The procedure will help ensure Rojas is ready for the upcoming spring training. “I heard you’re back doing baseball activities in about a month,” he said. “My goal is to be ready for next spring training, and I’m pretty sure I will be.”
Returning to the roster for the World Series, Rojas hopes to make an impact and help the Dodgers secure the championship.
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