Rojas is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the White Sox.
Rojas started the previous five games but will sit Friday as lefty Garrett Crochet takes the mound for the White Sox. Cristian Pache will start in center field and bat ninth
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Out again Friday
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Rojas is not in the lineup for Friday's game versus the Pirates, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
It's his second straight game on the bench. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he wanted to give Rojas a "soft reset" amidst a 5-for-31 start at the plate this season. Brandon Marsh is again in center field and Whit Merrifield will handle left.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Sitting out Thursday
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Rojas is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
The Phillies are going with Brandon Marsh in center field and Whit Merrifield in left field for the series opener. Rojas did have a three-hit game earlier this week, but it represented more than half of his hit total for the season (five).
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Not in Sunday's lineup
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Rojas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Washington, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Rojas is 1-for-22 through eight games this season and will head to the bench Sunday. Cristian Pache will take over in center field for the series finale versus the Nationals.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Absent from Monday's lineup
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Rojas is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Reds, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Marsh started each of the three games of the Phillies' weekend series against Atlanta but will take a seat in the opener versus Cincinnati. Brandon Marsh will slide over to center field and Whit Merrifield will get the start in left field.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Steals base in Friday's start
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Rojas went 0-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base in Friday's 9-3 loss to Atlanta.
Getting the start in center field and batting ninth in Philadelphia's opener, Rojas worked a six-pitch walk from Spencer Strider in the fifth inning before stealing second base. The 23-year-old stole 14 bags in 15 attempts in only 59 games last season while slashing .302/.342/.430, but his 5:42 BB:K and .410 BABIP suggest he still has a lot to prove at the plate in 2024 if he wants to hang onto his starting role.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Handling center field Friday
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Rojas is starting in center field and batting ninth in Friday's opener against Atlanta.
Rojas had a rough spring training, slashing just .170/.214/.264 while working on swing changes. He'll have to provide some value with his bat in order to keep his starting job, but the Phillies have enough confidence in Rojas' defense that he should receive a bit of time to get going.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Still favorite for center field job
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The Phillies are still leaning toward opening the season with Rojas as their center fielder, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
Rojas is hitting just .156/.174/.267 this spring after the Phillies asked him to make major adjustments to his swing. Despite the results, hitting coach Kevin Long said of Rojas that "I really, really like what I'm seeing from him." If the Phils ultimately decide Rojas would be best off going to the minors for a while, they would slide Brandon Marsh over to center field and put Whit Merrifield in left. However, it sounds like the club still prefers Rojas' elite defense in center, with the hope that he'll make strides at the plate. Perhaps telling is that Marsh has yet to play an inning this spring in center field after returning a week ago from knee surgery. The Phillies are likely to make a decision on their outfield later this week.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Thursday that Rojas will have to earn the everyday center field job next spring, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Rojas slashed .302/.342/.430 over his first 164 major-league plate appearances during the 2023 regular season and became the Phillies' primary center fielder down the stretch, but the 23-year-old then went 4-for-43 (.093) in the playoffs as Philadelphia ultimately fell to the Arizona in the NLCS. Rojas jumped directly from Double-A to the majors in July and could perhaps spend some time at the Triple-A level to begin the 2024 campaign.
Rojas will be on the bench for the afternoon portion of Saturday's twin bill against the Mets.
Rojas finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row, though he's likely to return to the lineup for the nightcap. He's made a good impression in his first major-league season, hitting .298/.340/.418 with 14 steals in 156 plate appearances while playing strong defense in center field. He managed just two homers, and his miniscule 0.9 percent barrel rate suggests we shouldn't expect many more next season, but his glove should earn him plenty of chances to play even if he can't repeat his numbers at the plate. For now, it will be Brandon Marsh who starts in center field.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Day off Thursday
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Rojas is not in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
Rojas has slashed .342/.372/.488 over his last 45 plate appearances while taking over as the Phillies' primary center fielder, but he'll grab a bit of rest during Thursday's series finale versus Pittsburgh. Jake Cave, Cristian Pache and Nick Castellanos are starting across the outfield.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Steps out of lineup
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Rojas is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mets.
Rojas started the previous three games but will take a seat for Sunday's series finale. Brandon Marsh will shift to center field while Jake Cave receives a start in left.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Out of Wednesday's lineup
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Rojas is not in Wednesday's lineup against Atlanta.
Rojas has played his way into a semi-regular role as a rookie, slashing .301/.344/.439 with two home runs, 12 steals and quality center field defense through 136 plate appearances. Jake Cave draws into the lineup at first base with Bryce Harper starting at designated hitter, pushing Kyle Schwarber to left field.
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Phillies' Johan Rojas: Belts two-run homer
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Rojas went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer in Monday's win over Atlanta.
Rojas' second-inning home run was the first of five long balls for the Phillies on Monday. It was his second career homer and first since Aug. 11, snapping a 27-game drought. He's gone 8-for-20 (.400) with four extra-base hits over his last six games. Rojas owns a .300/.344/.442 slash line through 133 plate appearances.
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Player Bio
HT/WT: 5-11, 165 lbs
Birthplace: San Francisco de Macoris, Dominican Republic
