Miguel Rojas is on his way back. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed on October 10 that the Venezuelan shortstop is in the team’s projected NLCS roster after missing time in the NLDS with a back injury. The only box left to check: get through Saturday’s workout. By all accounts, he did.
The Injury That Put Him in Doubt
Rojas exited the NLDS with a back injury that immediately raised concerns in the Dodgers’ camp. Losing your starting shortstop in October is never a minor inconvenience — it’s a hole in your infield defense that the team had to patch on the fly while advancing to the Championship Series.
Roberts was straightforward about it: Rojas was already in the projected NLCS roster, and Saturday’s workout was the final step to lock in his spot. When a manager frames it that way, he’s not being cautious — he’s confirming everything else has already checked out.
Why the Dodgers Need Him for the NLCS
Rojas doesn’t make this roster on his bat. His career batting average has historically hovered around .240 and his offensive value is limited. What the Dodgers cannot afford to lose is his glove: he’s one of the best-range shortstops in the National League and has earned multiple Gold Glove Awards throughout his career.
In a Championship Series where every out matters, that kind of infield presence isn’t something you improvise. You either have it or you don’t.
Beyond the defense, Rojas brings October experience. The Dodgers have no shortage of talent on their roster, but players who already know what a postseason dugout feels like are worth double when the pressure tightens in the late innings.
What This Means Going Into the Series
If Saturday’s workout went as expected — and the reporting from Dodgers Nation suggests it did — Los Angeles enters the NLCS with a complete infield. That changes the opposing manager’s defensive planning before the first pitch of the series is even thrown.
