March 17, 2023 • 8 mins
Dodger infielder Miguel Rojas talks about the upcoming season on Spring Training Dodger Talk from Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Arizona.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Where would the Dodgers be if theydid not make that trade for him before
the season started. Uh, theywould be in a big heap of trouble
with the injury to Gavin Lux.But Andrew Freeman knew that in December.
He knew he needed a middle infielderthat could be a big backup in case
there was an injury. Not aseason ending injury, but an injury.
(00:23):
Unfortunately, it's a season ending injurywhich has tested the Dodgers infield depth.
But they will not lose a beatdefensively with Miguel Rojas at shortstop. And
I had a chance to catch upwith the former Dodger and now the new
Dodger, Miguel Rojas. Miguel,thanks a lot for the time. YEA.
(00:43):
Happy to to talk to you againuntil to all defense without uh watching
and listening to spring training games.I know you always have a beautiful tan
on you, but it feels likeyou have that spring training glow. Oh
yeah, so many things going onright now, you know. I black
kind of getting on my face alittle bit, and I mean it's really
nice to get to get back inand random of teams and getting your routine
(01:08):
back, you know, you're playinga lot of day games. We're gonna
start playing a little bit more nicegames now, so it's gonna be nice,
and we're getting closer to start theseason and we're getting really excited.
Can you describe just your comfort levelfrom the start of spring training to where
you're at right now? Not reallycomfortable if I feel like when I walk
in this clubhouse and I saw thegroup that we had and the confidence that
(01:29):
the coaching staff and the front officegave you, especially like after they told
me that that I'm going to beplaying a little bit more short stuff than
than anything else, I think thatgave you a boat of confidence and you
feel you feel it right away.You know, you just want to be
a piece of the boss. So, like I said, but at this
time, I'm not gonna give anyany more, meaning that that that what
(01:49):
I is supposed to be doing here, which is helping the team win.
So it doesn't matter if I playevery day, I played two or three
times a week. Are going tobe preparing the same way to contribute to
win games. Miguel. It's apleasure for me because I'm one of the
rare people that I've seen your careerarc, where it started with the Dodgers,
where you took it with the Marlins, and where it's at right now.
(02:10):
I've noticed you've become a mentor toa lot of young players, Gavin
Lucks before you got injured and nowMiguel Vargus. Where does that come from?
Do you feel like you're paying somethingforward? Well? That the thing
is like when you get experienced inthis game, it's really easy to translate
through work. You know, mywork ethic and the way that I'm prepared
and the way that I go outsideevery single day to work on the little
(02:35):
things. I think that's contagious.And a couple of the things that I
like to do is show them thatare going to be available for them and
us as well as Adrian Gonzalez wasavailable for me, Martin Prado, guys
who really took the time to actuallyshow me a little bit of how it
is to be prepared for one hundredand sixty two games season. So for
me, it's my time now toactually let this uh players know that it's
(03:00):
okay. You know, you're goingto find a routine, You're gonna find
your own way. You don't haveto be like me. But some things
that you can pick up. It'sreally cool. It's really nice to do
it that way because I'm not tryingto impose any anything on anybody. I'm
just trying to be there for themand be a good role model through work.
Well through role model through work.I mean, when I see you
(03:20):
on the back fields, you arepracticing with purpose. You don't take any
place off on the back fields andpractice. Is that one of the things
you hope others see practice with apurpose? Yea. And I talk to
you guys already, I've been bollcalled on that we need to be able
to to go to practice and doit game game speak, because that's the
only way that we're going to beready for the situations when it comes out
(03:44):
there. You know, when it'sthe eight inn and basis are loaded and
one out and you need to catchthe groundball, it's going to be way
too late for you to lock in. You know, if you if you
started to lock in when you're practicingand you're practicing with purpose and with some
kind of urgency. That's that's whatI tell the guys. You know,
we gotta have the urgency of catchingthis ball, you know, and have
some pride of you know, everysingle ball that got hit to you in
(04:06):
practice. It needs to be thatway. And I've been really impressed with
the way the guys has had respondedto us to the challenge, you know
of like, if we're gonna takefifteen ground balls, let's do against peed.
We're not gonna be tired and promiseyou that we're gonna play the game
and we're gonna be okay. Butif we're gonna take ten or twenty off
the off the bat and we're gonnado a live let's do it against peace.
(04:29):
So that way anybody, you know, it can be the guys who
are gonna start in the minor leagues, guys who are not going to start
playing every day bench guys. We'reall going to be in a situation somewhere
where we're gonna need to be.So that's why we're doing it. And
I'm not really happy that the challengeis being accepted and it's being well,
well, listen and hear by theguys. That's the voice of Miguel Rojas
(04:49):
and Miguel Vargas is your double playcombination partner. When you talk about work
ethic, we have seen it lastyear going into this year, this guy
does not He works pretty hard.Yeah, he don't. He don't take
off days, you know, likeI feel like science. I know,
Megie, he always wanted to getbetter, you know, and that's that's
what that is. That's what's refreshingabout this guy. You know, a
(05:12):
big prospect. He's been hitting allover the place that he plays before,
but now he got the opportunity toplay in the big leagues every day in
a different position. So he wantsto be better, you know. He
wants to be good. He wantsto be a complete player. He just
don't want to be a bad throwinginto second base. And let's see what
happened. Now he's working really hardon being a two way player and being
really good, you know. AndI'm I'm confidence and I'm proud of the
(05:34):
way that he's been working because Imean, through work, you can accomplish
a lot of things, you know, And and if it doesn't happen right
now, it's going to happen atsome point because if you continue to work
to get better every day, Ithink that's that's when success is coming.
Well, Miguel Rojas has worked andhe has had success. Are you surprised
how well your right wrist has respondedbecause it feels like you haven't skipped a
(05:58):
beat. Yeah. I feel likeafter especially the last half of the season
that I have last year and thisoff season, now being able to swing
the bad as much as I usedto. I think two things, one
bad thing, one good thing.You know. The bad thing was like
I skipped my routines in the oldseason, right, and I was kind
of concerned about like how I wasgoing to feel when I start playing games,
(06:21):
you know. But now I feellike I'm rested, you know.
I'm I'm I'm I'm free, I'mlose, I'm not like overwhelmed with with
a lot of swings in the oldseason, and I think the good things
and the bad things about the experienceof getting too seriories and not being able
to swing that much. He helpedme a lot because my mind is clear,
you know, I'm not thinking waytoo much. I'm I'm just letting
(06:42):
my body kind of follows what I'mworking on in the cage and all that.
So I feel really good and I'mhappy that the race is feeling the
way it is feeling. And boththeories went really well and I mean I'm
back to percent. Yeah, youseem rejuvenated. You don't seem beat down
by spring training? No, no, no, I feel I feel like
I'm I really enjoyed spring training andI'm playing all my games, you know,
(07:04):
other than then the day that Ihave to come out because of the
cramp first game, I've been doinga really good job, like I staying
on top of my staff and beingready for the start of the season.
And that's why I stay here.You know. I didn't go to the
WUBC because I wanted to be ableto do all these reps and get some
games on there my belt and Igets some bats because I knew the all
(07:25):
season wasn't wasn't the same, andall these are bats that I'm getting right
now. I'm getting me ready forthe season. All right, Before I
let you go, Speaking of theWorld Baseball Classic Mexico USA, that was
a big game yesterday. Did youcatch Austin Barnes and how much love he
got from his teammates? I did, man, I did Barnes back to
back games catching, you know,and long games too. Both both of
(07:46):
the games were really long, andI'm happy and proud of that. He's
playing really good for Mexico, andI mean, they're looking pretty good.
And they they took on they tookon us last night, and hopefully they
can go to Mijami and move onto an X one and let's see if
they can face Venezuela. But Ijust got to be rooting for Venezuela.
I'm sorry. Thanks a lot forthe time. Congratulations. Great to see
(08:09):
your smile back with the Dodgers.
Where would the Dodgers be if theydid not make that trade for him before
the season started. Uh, theywould be in a big heap of trouble
with the injury to Gavin Lux.But Andrew Freeman knew that in December.
He knew he needed a middle infielderthat could be a big backup in case
there was an injury. Not aseason ending injury, but an injury.
(00:23):
Unfortunately, it's a season ending injurywhich has tested the Dodgers infield depth.
But they will not lose a beatdefensively with Miguel Rojas at shortstop. And
I had a chance to catch upwith the former Dodger and now the new
Dodger, Miguel Rojas. Miguel,thanks a lot for the time. YEA.
(00:43):
Happy to to talk to you againuntil to all defense without uh watching
and listening to spring training games.I know you always have a beautiful tan
on you, but it feels likeyou have that spring training glow. Oh
yeah, so many things going onright now, you know. I black
kind of getting on my face alittle bit, and I mean it's really
nice to get to get back inand random of teams and getting your routine
(01:08):
back, you know, you're playinga lot of day games. We're gonna
start playing a little bit more nicegames now, so it's gonna be nice,
and we're getting closer to start theseason and we're getting really excited.
Can you describe just your comfort levelfrom the start of spring training to where
you're at right now? Not reallycomfortable if I feel like when I walk
in this clubhouse and I saw thegroup that we had and the confidence that
(01:29):
the coaching staff and the front officegave you, especially like after they told
me that that I'm going to beplaying a little bit more short stuff than
than anything else, I think thatgave you a boat of confidence and you
feel you feel it right away.You know, you just want to be
a piece of the boss. So, like I said, but at this
time, I'm not gonna give anyany more, meaning that that that what
(01:49):
I is supposed to be doing here, which is helping the team win.
So it doesn't matter if I playevery day, I played two or three
times a week. Are going tobe preparing the same way to contribute to
win games. Miguel. It's apleasure for me because I'm one of the
rare people that I've seen your careerarc, where it started with the Dodgers,
where you took it with the Marlins, and where it's at right now.
(02:10):
I've noticed you've become a mentor toa lot of young players, Gavin
Lucks before you got injured and nowMiguel Vargus. Where does that come from?
Do you feel like you're paying somethingforward? Well? That the thing
is like when you get experienced inthis game, it's really easy to translate
through work. You know, mywork ethic and the way that I'm prepared
and the way that I go outsideevery single day to work on the little
(02:35):
things. I think that's contagious.And a couple of the things that I
like to do is show them thatare going to be available for them and
us as well as Adrian Gonzalez wasavailable for me, Martin Prado, guys
who really took the time to actuallyshow me a little bit of how it
is to be prepared for one hundredand sixty two games season. So for
me, it's my time now toactually let this uh players know that it's
(03:00):
okay. You know, you're goingto find a routine, You're gonna find
your own way. You don't haveto be like me. But some things
that you can pick up. It'sreally cool. It's really nice to do
it that way because I'm not tryingto impose any anything on anybody. I'm
just trying to be there for themand be a good role model through work.
Well through role model through work.I mean, when I see you
(03:20):
on the back fields, you arepracticing with purpose. You don't take any
place off on the back fields andpractice. Is that one of the things
you hope others see practice with apurpose? Yea. And I talk to
you guys already, I've been bollcalled on that we need to be able
to to go to practice and doit game game speak, because that's the
only way that we're going to beready for the situations when it comes out
(03:44):
there. You know, when it'sthe eight inn and basis are loaded and
one out and you need to catchthe groundball, it's going to be way
too late for you to lock in. You know, if you if you
started to lock in when you're practicingand you're practicing with purpose and with some
kind of urgency. That's that's whatI tell the guys. You know,
we gotta have the urgency of catchingthis ball, you know, and have
some pride of you know, everysingle ball that got hit to you in
(04:06):
practice. It needs to be thatway. And I've been really impressed with
the way the guys has had respondedto us to the challenge, you know
of like, if we're gonna takefifteen ground balls, let's do against peed.
We're not gonna be tired and promiseyou that we're gonna play the game
and we're gonna be okay. Butif we're gonna take ten or twenty off
the off the bat and we're gonnado a live let's do it against peace.
(04:29):
So that way anybody, you know, it can be the guys who
are gonna start in the minor leagues, guys who are not going to start
playing every day bench guys. We'reall going to be in a situation somewhere
where we're gonna need to be.So that's why we're doing it. And
I'm not really happy that the challengeis being accepted and it's being well,
well, listen and hear by theguys. That's the voice of Miguel Rojas
(04:49):
and Miguel Vargas is your double playcombination partner. When you talk about work
ethic, we have seen it lastyear going into this year, this guy
does not He works pretty hard.Yeah, he don't. He don't take
off days, you know, likeI feel like science. I know,
Megie, he always wanted to getbetter, you know, and that's that's
what that is. That's what's refreshingabout this guy. You know, a
(05:12):
big prospect. He's been hitting allover the place that he plays before,
but now he got the opportunity toplay in the big leagues every day in
a different position. So he wantsto be better, you know. He
wants to be good. He wantsto be a complete player. He just
don't want to be a bad throwinginto second base. And let's see what
happened. Now he's working really hardon being a two way player and being
really good, you know. AndI'm I'm confidence and I'm proud of the
(05:34):
way that he's been working because Imean, through work, you can accomplish
a lot of things, you know, And and if it doesn't happen right
now, it's going to happen atsome point because if you continue to work
to get better every day, Ithink that's that's when success is coming.
Well, Miguel Rojas has worked andhe has had success. Are you surprised
how well your right wrist has respondedbecause it feels like you haven't skipped a
(05:58):
beat. Yeah. I feel likeafter especially the last half of the season
that I have last year and thisoff season, now being able to swing
the bad as much as I usedto. I think two things, one
bad thing, one good thing.You know. The bad thing was like
I skipped my routines in the oldseason, right, and I was kind
of concerned about like how I wasgoing to feel when I start playing games,
(06:21):
you know. But now I feellike I'm rested, you know.
I'm I'm I'm I'm free, I'mlose, I'm not like overwhelmed with with
a lot of swings in the oldseason, and I think the good things
and the bad things about the experienceof getting too seriories and not being able
to swing that much. He helpedme a lot because my mind is clear,
you know, I'm not thinking waytoo much. I'm I'm just letting
(06:42):
my body kind of follows what I'mworking on in the cage and all that.
So I feel really good and I'mhappy that the race is feeling the
way it is feeling. And boththeories went really well and I mean I'm
back to percent. Yeah, youseem rejuvenated. You don't seem beat down
by spring training? No, no, no, I feel I feel like
I'm I really enjoyed spring training andI'm playing all my games, you know,
(07:04):
other than then the day that Ihave to come out because of the
cramp first game, I've been doinga really good job, like I staying
on top of my staff and beingready for the start of the season.
And that's why I stay here.You know. I didn't go to the
WUBC because I wanted to be ableto do all these reps and get some
games on there my belt and Igets some bats because I knew the all
(07:25):
season wasn't wasn't the same, andall these are bats that I'm getting right
now. I'm getting me ready forthe season. All right, Before I
let you go, Speaking of theWorld Baseball Classic Mexico USA, that was
a big game yesterday. Did youcatch Austin Barnes and how much love he
got from his teammates? I did, man, I did Barnes back to
back games catching, you know,and long games too. Both both of
(07:46):
the games were really long, andI'm happy and proud of that. He's
playing really good for Mexico, andI mean, they're looking pretty good.
And they they took on they tookon us last night, and hopefully they
can go to Mijami and move onto an X one and let's see if
they can face Venezuela. But Ijust got to be rooting for Venezuela.
I'm sorry. Thanks a lot forthe time. Congratulations. Great to see
(08:09):
your smile back with the Dodgers.
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