Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
Miguel Rojas delivered the biggest swing of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2025 season, but there was a point when he believed he wouldn’t be on the roster by the time the postseason came around.
It was around June of last season that Rojas began to worry about the prospect of being released by L.A., reported by Katie Woo of the Athletic. It was thanks to a conversation with Kiké Hernández that Rojas was able to avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy and find his equilibrium:
“I wanted to change the mentality, because if he didn’t, he was going to be on the way out,” Hernández explained. “Not because it was going to happen, but because he was going to do that to himself. I basically told him, ‘I’ve been where you are right now, and it’s not a good way to live. If you put a stop to it, and you say the season starts tomorrow and that’s the mentality you bring in each and every day, you’re going to be much more enjoyable.’”
At that point in the season, Rojas was hitting .216/.242/.284. After his conversation with Hernández, the right-hander went on a hot streak and finished the month of June slashing .348/.423/.696.
Both the heart-to-heart with Hernández and his improved fortunes at the plate carried over through the rest of the year. From June 6 onward, Rojas hit .286 with 21 extra-base hits in 199 at-bats.
Rojas said the biggest difference was the mindset he brought to the field day in and day out.
“He made me stop thinking about worst-case scenarios and the worst circumstances that could happen and made me enjoy every single moment that I have without thinking if it was going to be my last game, or if I was going to be called into the office after the game,” Rojas said. “And I think that’s really what changed me. I changed my mindset coming to the ballpark every day. And I wasn’t thinking about the negative stuff anymore.”
His rejuvenated play style has carried over into 2026 as well. The 13-year veteran has been invaluable this season, especially in the wake of the injury to Mookie Betts.
He has hit .341/.375/.477 this season while primarily dividing his time between second base and shortstop.
Miguel Rojas will reconsider retirement if Dodgers three-peat
Miguel Rojas previously stated his intention to retire following the 2026 season, but is now reconsidering his decision. He is under a one-year contract, which he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the offseason.
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