GLENDALE, Ariz — The “new opportunity” created by Gavin Lux’s injury has prompted Miguel Rojas to withdraw from playing for Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.
Rojas said the uncertainty of playing time as a utility player on Team Venezuela was the deciding factor. Instead of leaving camp to join the WBC team next week, Rojas will stay in the Dodgers’ camp and prepare to be their primary shortstop.
“Especially with my offseason this offseason, two wrist surgeries, I need at-bats,” Rojas said. “I need to get going and my role with that Venezuelan team would not be playing every day. I would be more of a role player, a guy that could come in late in the game to play defense. I don’t know how many at-bats I would get. I talked to the GM, the manager of the team and the people running the Venezuelan team and I said, ‘You know what, I feel the necessity, for me, for my career, for the Los Angeles Dodgers trying to find a way to win a championship. I need to stay.’ I need to keep building those relationships with guys, especially with Miggy (Vargas) at second base, knowing that he’s going to be playing second base for the first time every day.
“It’s something that I don’t take easy. This is a hard decision. But at the end of the day, it’s what I need to do for my future and for the organization as well.”
Rojas said he met with Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Brandon Gomes and manager Dave Roberts in the wake of Lux’s season-ending knee injury Monday and they expressed “concern” about Rojas leaving camp now.
“We talked about how bad of a break for the organization is having Lux hurt like that. But I feel like someone has to step up and someone has to take over the position, right?” Rojas said.
“Together as a group, we decided that it’s better for me to stay here if I’m not going to play every day (in the WBC).”
Rojas said he would possibly reconsider if Venezuela needed…
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