Josh Rojas

{{Infobox baseball biography

| name = Josh Rojas

| image =

| team = Chicago White Sox

| number = 5

| position = Utility player

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|6|30}}

| birth_place = Litchfield Park, Arizona, U.S.

| bats = Left

| throws = Right

| debutleague = MLB

| debutdate = August 12

| debutyear = 2019

| debutteam = Arizona Diamondbacks

| statleague = MLB

| statyear = 2024 season

| stat1label = Batting average

| stat1value = .247

| stat2label = Home runs

| stat2value = 34

| stat3label = Runs batted in

| stat3value = 189

| teams = * Arizona Diamondbacks ({{mlby|2019}}–{{mlby|2023}})

Seattle Mariners ({{mlby|2023}}–{{mlby|2024}})

}}

Joshua Luke Rojas (born June 30, 1994) is an American professional baseball utility player for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Seattle Mariners.

Amateur career

Rojas attended Millennium High School in Goodyear, Arizona and played college baseball first at Paradise Valley Community College before transferring to the University of Hawaii for his final two years of college.{{Cite web |last=Hull |first=Billy |last2= |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Hawaii baseball: Former UH infielder Josh Rojas called up to the major leagues |url=https://www.hawaiiwarriorworld.com/baseball/former-uh-infielder-josh-rojas-called-up-to-the-major-leagues/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Hawaii Warrior World |language=en-US}} In 2015, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod Baseball League.{{cite web|author= |url=http://pointstreak.com/baseball/player.html?playerid=861033&seasonid=29031 |title=#12 Josh Rojas - Profile |publisher=pointstreak.com |date= |accessdate=January 9, 2020}} In 2017, his senior year at Hawaii, he hit .294 with five home runs and 25 RBIs in 50 games.{{cite web|last=Garden |first=The |url=https://www.thegardenisland.com/2017/06/15/sports/2-from-uh-baseball-selected-in-mlb-draft/ |title=2 from UH baseball selected in MLB Draft |publisher=The Garden Island |date=June 15, 2017 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}

Professional career

=Houston Astros=

Rojas was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 26th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.westvalleyview.com/archives/josh-rojas-drafted-by-houston-astros/article_9f0d0826-73b2-5c6f-bade-df7ba277c922.html|title=Josh Rojas drafted by Houston Astros|website=West Valley View|date=June 28, 2017 }}{{Cite web |title=26th Round of the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/index.fcgi?year_ID=2017&draft_round=26&draft_type=junreg&query_type=year_round&from_type_unk=0&from_type_4y=0&from_type_jc=0&from_type_hs=0 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} He received a $1,000 signing bonus.{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas - Baseball Stats - The Baseball Cube |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/200222/ |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=TheBaseballCube.com |language=en}}

Rojas made his professional debut in 2017 with the Quad Cities River Bandits and also played in four games for the Fresno Grizzlies.{{Cite web|url=https://qconline.com/sports/river_bandits/cleaning-up-for-bandits-17-draft-pick-rojas-is-qcs-newest-hot-hitter/article_9d3d1d38-928f-5339-af13-715291063675.html|title=Cleaning up for Bandits; '17 draft pick Rojas is QC's newest hot hitter|first=Drake|last=Lansman|website=Dispatch Argus|date=July 25, 2017 }}{{Cite web|url=https://qctimes.com/sports/baseball/professional/minor/midwest-league/rojas-finds-his-home-with-river-bandits/article_0c95c530-b204-5685-850f-43cc51e2b28a.html|title=Rojas finds his home with River Bandits|first=Steve|last=Batterson|website=The Quad-City Times|date=July 12, 2017 }} In 56 professional games in 2017, he hit .261 with 10 home runs and 40 RBIs. He began 2018 with the Buies Creek Astros and, after one month, was promoted to the Corpus Christi Hooks, where he earned Texas League All-Star honors.{{cite web|author=Chandler Rome |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-prospects-Hooks-Texas-League-All-Star-Game-12991931.php |title=Seven Astros prospects tabbed for Texas League All-Star Game |publisher=Chron.com |date=June 13, 2018 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rojas-009jos |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In 130 total games between both teams, he slashed .263/.351/.408 with eight home runs, 55 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases. He started 2019 back in Corpus Christi before being promoted to the Round Rock Express at the end of May.{{cite web|author=Chandler Rome |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Introducing-Josh-Rojas-the-Astros-aspiring-13625684.php |title=Introducing Josh Rojas, the Astros' aspiring superutility asset |publisher=Chron.com |date=February 18, 2019 |accessdate=March 18, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.khon2.com/sports/local-sports/red-hot-former-rainbow-rojas-promoted-to-triple-a-in-astros-organization/ |title=Red-hot former Rainbow Rojas promoted to Triple-A in Astros organization |publisher=Khon2.com |date= May 31, 2019|accessdate=March 18, 2021}}

=Arizona Diamondbacks=

On July 31, 2019, the Astros traded Rojas and fellow prospects Corbin Martin, Seth Beer, and J. B. Bukauskas to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for starter Zack Greinke and cash considerations.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/dbacks/news/zack-greinke-astros-trade|title= Astros deal for Greinke in Deadline stunner |work=MLB.com|date=July 31, 2019|first=Brian|last=McTaggart}}{{Cite web |date=2019-08-01 |title=Details On The Astros' Acquisition Of Zack Greinke |url=https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/08/how-the-astros-landed-zack-greinke.html |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=MLB Trade Rumors |language=en-US}}

On August 12, 2019, the Diamondbacks selected Rojas' contract and promoted him to the major leagues.{{cite web|url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/mlb/diamondbacks/2019/08/11/diamondbacks-prospect-and-arizona-native-joshua-rojas-off-blistering-start-triple-reno/1983309001/|title=Diamondbacks prospect and Arizona native Joshua Rojas off to blistering start in Triple-A Reno|work=The Arizona Republic|date=August 12, 2019|accessdate=August 12, 2019|author=Nick Piecoro}} He made his major league debut that night against the Colorado Rockies, hitting two singles and tallying his first major league run and RBI.{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Diamondbacks-Josh-Rojas-Astros-Greinke-trade-debut-14299302.php|title=Diamondbacks' Josh Rojas, part of Astros' Zack Greinke trade package, makes MLB debut|work=Houston Chronicle|date=August 12, 2019|accessdate=August 13, 2019|author=Chandler Rome}} He played primarily in the outfield in his first season, putting up a .217 average with 2 home runs in 41 games.{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas 2019 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=rojasjo01&t=b&year=2019 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In 2020, Rojas slashed .180/.257/.180 in 17 games before ending the season on the injured list with a lower back injury.{{Cite web|url=https://www.azsnakepit.com/2020/12/10/22165901/2020-arizona-diamondbacks-reviews-josh-rojas|title = 2020 Arizona Diamondbacks Reviews #27: Josh Rojas|date = December 10, 2020}} Rojas improved in 2021, slashing .264/.341/.411 across 139 games while serving in a utility role for the Diamondbacks.{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas 2021 Batting Game Logs |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=rojasjo01&t=b&year=2021 |access-date=January 23, 2022 |website=Baseball-Reference.com}} He was Arizona's leadoff hitter in 71 games, a career high.{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas 2021 Batting Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rojasjo01&year=2021&t=b |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} In 2022, he played primarily third base with some action at second base and repeated his offensive production, batting .269/.349/.391 in 125 games. In the first four months of 2023, his offense dipped with the Diamondbacks, with a .228 average and no home runs in 59 games.{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rojasjo01.shtml |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}}

=Seattle Mariners=

On July 31, 2023, the Diamondbacks traded Rojas, Dominic Canzone, and Ryan Bliss to the Seattle Mariners for closer Paul Sewald.{{Cite web |title=Mariners acquire versatile Rojas, two prospects for Sewald |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-acquire-trio-in-exchange-for-paul-sewald |access-date=May 17, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} Rojas played second base for the Mariners for the rest of the season, batting .272 with 4 home runs in 46 games to close out 2023.

Rojas went back across the diamond to third base in 2024, as former teammate Eugenio Suárez was dealt to his former club, the Diamondbacks. Rojas was hot the first month of the season, batting .318 with 5 home runs at the end of April. He fared worse thereafter, batting .205 with only 5 more home runs. For the season, he hit .225/.304/.337. The Mariners mostly shielded him from left-handed pitchers, as he hit .125 in just 60 at bats without the platoon advantage.{{Cite web |title=Josh Rojas 2024 Batting Splits |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/split.fcgi?id=rojasjo01&year=2024&t=b |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Baseball-Reference.com |language=en}} On November 22, Rojas was non-tendered by the Mariners, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.{{cite web|url=https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1790812/seattle-mariners-non-tender-josh-rojas-3-others/ |title=Mariners non-tender 3B Josh Rojas, 3 others |first=Shannon |last=Drayer |publisher=sports.mynorthwest.com |access-date=November 22, 2024}}

= Chicago White Sox =

On January 8, 2025, Rojas signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract with the Chicago White Sox.{{Cite web |date= |title=Versatile Rojas on signing with White Sox: 'They didn't really have to sell me too much'|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/josh-rojas-white-sox-deal |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=mlb.com |language=en-US}}

Personal life

Rojas and Alexandra Rojas were married on July 11, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Alexandra |date=July 22, 2023 |title=Alexandra Rojas on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu_IXIhOwsu/?igsh=YmJoaHU2emIzMWI3 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=Instagram}} The couple's first child, Charlotte Rojas, was born on January 5, 2024.{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Alexandra |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Alexandra Rojas on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C1-aoGmyTzx/?igsh=am4xczR1ODRmcTA4 |access-date=2024-10-16 |website=www.instagram.com}}