Rookie Johan Rojas Playing It Cool For Red-Hot Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies are red-hot in their quest to return to the World Series. They have bashed 19 homers in eight playoff games, winning seven.

Hot hitting wins, as does cool outfield play. Rookie center-fielder Johan Rojas’ knack for icing off opposing rallies has been just as important as the Phillies’ overpowering offense. An analysis of how the potent lineup was constructed proves Rojas’ role has been very impactful.

The 23-year-old’s ability to roam the outfield while supplying a key hit on occasion enabled manager Rob Thomson to change the lineup and significantly strengthen the defense.

PHILADELPHIA: Johan Rojas reacts after hitting an eye-opening two-run triple for the Phillies … [+] against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park on August 21. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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Rojas took over center in mid-July, sending Brandon Marsh to left field in place of slugger Kyle Schwarber. That sent the defensively-challenged veteran back to designated hitter and he flourished. Superstar Bryce Harper went to first base after being the DH while easing back to duty following off-season arm surgery. That secured what had been a problem area after slugger Rhys Hopkins tore his left ACL on March 23 and missed the entire season.

“He’s been a huge addition to our ballclub, even if he doesn’t do anything at the plate,” manager Rob Thomson said of Rojas.

By The Numbers

Raw numbers prove it. Harper has one error at first; six others who tried to fill the position totaled 10. Schwarber had five errors in left; Marsh has one. Not having to worry about defense, Schwarber totaled 20 homers in 54 games after August 1. Harper hit .361 with 10 homers in August alone.

PHILADELPHIA: Bryce Harper signals to teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning of … [+] Game 1 of the NLCS against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park on Oct. 16. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

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In the playoffs, they have been torrid: Schwarber, 7-for-32, 5 runs, 3 homers, 4 RBI; Harper, 10-for-26, 10 runs, 4 homers, 7 RBI.

Rojas was called up when veteran Josh Harrison (since released) and young speedster Cristian Pache both hit the injured list. He started both games of a doubleheader on July 15 against San Diego, going 0-for-3 in his debut. A 3-for-4 performance with two RBI in the second game boosted his confidence.

His average never dipped below .280 and he finished strong, going 17-for-49 (.347) over his final 15 games. It was not a coincidence that the Phillies claimed a playoff spot by going 10-5 in those games and 39-20 in all games Rojas played.

“Everybody welcomed me with open arms,” Rojas said. “It made it much easier.”

Overall, Rojas batted .302 with 2 homers, 24 runs, 23 RBI and 14 steals. He was caught stealing once. The only negative aspect was his 42 strikeouts to five walks.

A $10,000 ‘Steal’

Rojas already has paid a huge dividend. The Phillies signed him at age 17 out of the Dominican Republic for a paltry $10,000 in January 2018. He played well in rookie ball, then hit just .245 in 207 games across two levels of Class A. But the speed was always there. In 130 games in 2022, he had 62 steals in 67 attempts.

Rojas began to turn things around offensively last year in the Arizona Fall League. He hit .310 (13-for-52) with 13 steals in 13 tries. Sent to Double-A Reading of the Eastern League this year, he batted .306 with 9 homers, 56 runs, 45 RBI and went 30-for-38 in steals over 76 games.

“He plays like he deserves to be here,” right fielder Nick Castellanos told Mat Gelb of The Athletic a month ago. “He definitely commands the outfield — not like a rookie. He’s a great teammate. He’s energetic. Honestly, even if I wanted to think of something negative to bring up or something that he needs to work on, really, everything is fantastic.”

A fantastic play by Rojas helped Philadelphia oust NL East champ Atlanta in the NL Division Series. His running catch near the center-field wall to deprive Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., of extra bases got the Phillies out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning of Game 4.

PHILADELPHIA: Phillies center-fielder Johan Rojas hits the wall after snaring a ball hit by … [+] Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr., with the bases loaded to end the seventh inning in Game Four of the NL Division Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 12. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

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“I knew I had to catch that ball,” Rojas told reporters through an interpreter afterwards. “If you want to score against me playing center field, you have to hit a homer.”

Said Castellanos that night: “He’s a gamer, no question about it. To be as young as he is and to play with this much electricity … I don’t think I could have when I was 22 years old in a playoff atmosphere in Philadelphia comfortably.”

Added Thomson: “That’s what he does. This kid is so poised, so good of an athlete, electric in the outfield.”

The Best I Ever Saw

Another speedster made a similar impact years ago. Paul Blair played spectacular defense in center for the Baltimore Orioles, who went to the World Series four times between 1966 and 1971. In Blair’s first 10 full seasons, Baltimore went to the post-season six times. In those six years, the Orioles had a 603-363 (.624) record.

His emergence as an elite outfielder in 1965 enabled Baltimore to trade veteran Jackie Brandt in a series of moves that netted right-fielder Frank Robinson. Robby immediately won the Triple Crown, AL MVP Award, and led the Orioles to their first World Championship in 1966.

BALTIMORE: Paul Blair tracks down a fly ball at Memorial Stadium. Blair won eight Gold Gloves. He … [+] played extremely shallow to cut off potential singles, but had the speed to run and catch balls hit over his head or in the gaps. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

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Blair won eight Gold Gloves. His home run at age 22 won Game 3 of the ’66 Series, 1-0. He became an all-star threat on the bases and at bat (23 homers, 20 steals, 102 runs, .285 in 1969), until getting hit in the face with a pitch that left him gun-shy at the plate. Still, he played exceptional defense throughout a 17-year career.

“Blair was the best I ever saw and believe me, I idolized Joe DiMaggio. This kid, Ken Griffey Jr., is tremendous, too,” Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Feller told me during a playoff game in the mid-1990s.

It is early in Rojas’ career, but I wonder where the late, opinionated “Bullet Bob” would rank him right now?