The Los Angeles Dodgers are currently gearing up to defend their World Series title, which they won in thrilling fashion over the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games last year. The Dodgers found themselves trailing heading into the top of the ninth inning in that game, but unsung hero Miguel Rojas ended up hitting a home run in that frame, sending the game to extras, where the Dodgers ultimately prevailed.
Now, Rojas is getting 100% real on what was going through his mind in those now-iconic moments, including his reaction to the words “no way” from broadcaster Joe Davis.
“That’s the first reaction, not just from him,” Rojas said, “but like, for me too. It was like, ‘No way.’”
“That’s a swing that you’re always gonna like, trying to go after,” Rojas added, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. “It’s gonna be kind of your model. I’m not gonna say just the swing. It’s just like the whole at bat. I can actually teach myself a lot of things. It makes me understand that I’m able to kind of stay under control, regroup, making sure that I simplify things in the middle of the at-bat.”
Rojas etched his name into Dodgers immortality with the home run blast, which was followed up by another long shot from Will Smith in the extra frames that ultimately won Los Angeles the game, and their second straight championship.
Somehow, the Dodgers were able to get demonstrably better this offseason, adding Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker in free agency and retaining the entirety of their championship core from a year ago. However, you never know when the team might need to count on a lesser-known player like Rojas to deliver in another big moment.
The Dodgers' season is slated to begin in late March, while spring training is just now getting underway.
