Steve Webb
LOS ANGELES, CA — In a pregame interview before Game 2 of the National League Division Series (NLDS), Dodgers’ shortstop Miguel Rojas discussed his health, mindset, and the team’s approach heading into the postseason. Rojas emphasized the importance of staying physically fit throughout the playoffs despite some challenges, including a recent injury flare-up.
“I was feeling as good as I can ask for my body to feel,” Rojas said, referring to the treatments he had received before Game 1. “It’s going to be a battle to stay that way throughout the whole postseason because our goal is to play three more weeks and go all the way.”
Rojas acknowledged that the team’s resilience in coming back from an early 3-0 deficit in Game 1 against the Padres was crucial. “Going down three-nothing in the first inning is never kind of the plan, especially knowing we got Yoshi [Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto] on the mound,” Rojas noted. “But this team continues to show fight and resiliency… we’re going to continue to fight every single inning.”
A key element of the Dodgers’ success, according to Rojas, is the productivity of the lower part of the lineup, which helps set the stage for the team’s big hitters. “Our mentality is grinding pitches out, having good at-bats regardless of the results,” Rojas explained. “If we have good at-bats, we get a lot of pitches from the starting pitcher. Yesterday, C was in trouble because he threw a lot of pitches, a lot of three-two counts, deep in counts, and then Shohei [Ohtani] can get a good pitch to hit.”
The 34-year-old shortstop, who has seen a resurgence in his offense this season, attributed his improvement to both physical and mental adjustments. “Physically, I worked a lot to put my swing in a good position. I feel like this is the season that I’ve been the most consistent out of my 11 years in the big leagues,” he said. Mentally, Rojas described how he approached each at-bat early in the season as if it were the postseason, leading to his overall success when given the chance to play every day.
When asked if he had been chasing more power in past seasons, Rojas admitted it was possible. “I had success with a couple of homers and maybe 30 doubles in one season, and I feel like I could have become that player,” he reflected. “But I stopped chasing for big numbers and started focusing more on what I need to do to help the team win on a daily basis.”
Rojas also talked about the team’s aggressive mentality, a shift that began during a pivotal series against the Arizona Diamondbacks a month ago. “We decided to be a little bit more aggressive,” he said. “Yesterday tells the whole story behind the aggression. We’re not taking pitches, we’re not giving them free strikes, and we’re ready to go.”
In conclusion, Rojas highlighted the importance of his defensive role and the pleasure of playing behind pitchers like Jack Flaherty, who knows how to change speeds and keep hitters off balance. “Playing behind guys who know what they’re doing makes it easier for us as a defense,” Rojas stated. “It’s been fun to watch.”
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