{"id":685212,"date":"2026-03-27T09:31:27","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T09:31:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/685212\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T09:31:27","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T09:31:27","slug":"miguel-rojas-cherishing-final-season-as-dodgers-win-season-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/685212\/","title":{"rendered":"Miguel Rojas cherishing final season as Dodgers win season opener"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In a quiet moment before the pomp and circumstance of opening day, <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2026-03-18\/miguel-rojas-erroneous-suspension-report-evan-drellich\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas<\/a> learned he\u2019d be starting in the final season opener of his long career.<\/p>\n<p>He was on the bench for the Freeway Series finale at Dodger Stadium earlier this week, when manager Dave Roberts came over to check in and give Rojas the news.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t know if \u2018Thank you\u2019 was the right thing to say because it\u2019s something I earned,\u201d Rojas recounted before the Dodgers\u2019 <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mlb.com\/gameday\/d-backs-vs-dodgers\/2026\/03\/26\/823974\/final\/box\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">8-2 win<\/a> Thursday against the Diamondbacks. \u201cIt\u2019s not something that I asked for as a favor. So I was just kind of speechless.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rojas embraced Roberts.<\/p>\n<p>           <video playsinline=\"playsinline\" loop=\"\" preload=\"none\" title=\"The Sights and Sounds of 2026 Dodgers Opening Day\" data-video-id=\"0000019d-2ccc-d364-a7df-2cfe61260000\">               <\/video>                 <img class=\"image\" alt=\"\"   width=\"473\" height=\"840\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774599379_128_.jpeg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>             <\/p>\n<ul data-element=\"action-bar-menu\" class=\"flex gap-2 list-none  absolute w-full h-10 top-0\">\n<li data-element=\"action-bar-share\" class=\"flex  w-full h-10 top-0 lg:items-center lg:justify-center \">\n<p> Share via     Close extra sharing options  <\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cIt was a gift to myself because of all the hard work and the preparation I put in throughout my whole career,\u201d Rojas said. \u201cThis way is the best way possible because I got up to the big leagues as a utility defensive replacement who can play shortstop but couldn\u2019t really hit much.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rojas, who intends to retire after this year, wrapped up his final opening day as a starter.<\/p>\n<p>Opening day is a celebration across baseball. But the <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dodgers<\/a> made it a full production. The pregame program Thursday included roster-introduction pyrotechnics, along with a stage and blue carpet set up in center field.<\/p>\n<p>It was also a time to commemorate the <a class=\"link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/sports\/dodgers\/story\/2025-11-01\/dodgers-world-series-2025-path-blue-jays\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">2025 World Series,<\/a> raising the banner and revealing the new sign marking the organization\u2019s ninth title.<\/p>\n<p>Rojas rode onto the field perched atop a metallic blue convertible, hoisting the 2025 World Series trophy over his head. To his left sat Freddie Freeman, holding the 2024 trophy. Will Ferrell sat in the driver\u2019s seat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s here,\u201d Rojas said Thursday afternoon. \u201cThis is my last chance to play baseball with an amazing group of guys.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A spot in the starting lineup hadn\u2019t been guaranteed for the 2025 World Series hero. The Diamondbacks started right-hander Zac Gallen. And throughout the year, Rojas will generally play second base against left-handers, platooning with Alex Freeland to begin the year and eventually Tommy Edman when he returns from the 10-day injured list.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis means a lot to him, his family and to the Dodger fans,\u201d Roberts said. \u201cAnd also, most importantly, I think he\u2019s a great option for today. All in, it was the right decision.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Rojas\u2019 final opening day \u2014 he\u2019s lined up to transition into a player development role with the Dodgers next year \u2014 was a well-rounded game for the Dodgers.<\/p>\n<p>A marquee pitching matchup between Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Gallen produced a scoreless first three innings. The Diamondbacks broke through first, with Geraldo Perdomo roping a two-run homer off Yamamoto in the fourth inning.<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers hadn\u2019t recorded a hit since Shohei Ohtani\u2019s leadoff single. But in the fifth, they finally got to Gallen and batted through the order.<\/p>\n<p>Max Muncy and Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez kicked off the rally with back-to-back groundball singles. Then Andy Pages launched a go-ahead home run into the left-field seats.<\/p>\n<p>Rojas, dropping a single into shallow center field, and Ohtani, drawing a walk, held on the pressure. And the Diamondbacks pulled Gallen for right-hander Juan Morillo.<\/p>\n<p>           <img id=\"yt-img-YQqzPEjHOJ4\" class=\"absolute\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774603884_130_hqdefault.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/>               <\/p>\n<p class=\"video-enhancement-title\">How the Dodgers celebrated their World Series title ahead of season opener.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve been a part of some really good lineups,\u201d Dodger shortstop Mookie Betts said, \u201cbut from top to bottom, it\u2019s tough to get through, especially three times.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers tacked on one more run, as Rojas raced home on Will Smith\u2019s single up the first-base line, before Morillo finally escaped a bases-loaded jam.<\/p>\n<p>The next inning, Yamamoto slammed the door shut against the top of the order with a pair of groundouts to Rojas and a strikeout, Yamamoto\u2019s sixth. He retired nine straight batters after Perdomo\u2019s homer, to finish strong.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo see Yamamoto take that punch with the homer and then rebound,\u201d Roberts said, \u201cget through six innings with not his best stuff, pretty impressive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Dodgers continued piling on against the Diamondbacks\u2019 bullpen. A four-run rally in the seventh inning featured Kyle Tucker\u2019s first hit as a Dodger, an RBI double and a two-run shot from Smith. The Dodgers\u2019 bullpen held the D-backs scoreless the rest of the way.<\/p>\n<p>           <img id=\"yt-img-8_zryIhRxLg\" class=\"absolute\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774599377_891_hqdefault.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\/>                 <\/p>\n<p>After reliever Tanner Scott forced a fly out to Betts to end the game, Rojas pointed two fingers to the sky and then joined his teammates in the handshake line.<\/p>\n<p>Rojas held his emotions at bay through spring training, immersing himself in the daily work. But opening day made it more real.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBaseball is what I remember me doing my whole life,\u201d Rojas said. \u201cI don\u2019t remember myself doing anything else. I know I was a good son, a good brother, a good student. I know that. But I don\u2019t remember myself doing that. I remember myself playing baseball, preparing for a baseball game, working out to be a professional baseball player. Then when I was in the minors I remember myself working really hard to get to the big leagues and then working really hard to be an every-day player. It goes on and on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Until it doesn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Future Hall of famer Clayton Kershaw knows what that\u2019s like. Venturing into retirement a year ahead of Rojas, Kershaw was on NBC\u2019s broadcast Thursday, sporting a suit on the field before the game.<\/p>\n<p>            <img class=\"image\" alt=\"Miguel Rojas, left, and Freddie Freeman hold the Dodgers' 2024 and 2025 World Series trophies.\"   width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1774603887_323_.jpeg\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>         <\/p>\n<p>Miguel Rojas, left, and Freddie Freeman hold the Dodgers\u2019 2024 and 2025 World Series trophies while riding in a car before the team\u2019s season opener at Dodger Stadium on Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>(Ronaldo Bolanos \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n<p>He commented on Rojas\u2019 tan, and Rojas told Kershaw he\u2019d stolen his look and had been going sleeveless.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy wife and my kids call him Uncle Kersh because of the joy he had throughout the year,\u201d Rojas said. \u201cHe was really happy all year. He wasn\u2019t really caught up in numbers or stats. He was just enjoying his time. I really wish I can do a little bit of what he did last year. I hope I can enjoy it as much as he did last year.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo I\u2019m going to be Uncle Miggy this year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In a quiet moment before the pomp and circumstance of opening day, Dodgers second baseman Miguel Rojas learned&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":685213,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5123],"tags":[591,19497,1582,276,16102,2442,46887,44326,3688,2961,224,5337,32075,50806,19127,14164,287690,25454,1628,20410],"class_list":["post-685212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-los-angeles","tag-baseball","tag-bullpen","tag-ca","tag-california","tag-diamondbacks","tag-dodgers","tag-final-season","tag-gallen","tag-inning","tag-la","tag-los-angeles","tag-losangeles","tag-miguel-rojas","tag-opening-day","tag-rally","tag-way","tag-well-rounded-game","tag-world-series","tag-year","tag-yoshinobu-yamamoto"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116300447064674528","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685212","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=685212"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/685212\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/685213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=685212"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=685212"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=685212"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}