When the Phillies traded for Austin Hays just before the deadline and proclaimed him an everyday outfielder, it was obviously going to come at the expense of someone already on the roster.
At the time, manager Rob Thomson said it would cost Johan Rojas playing time – and it made sense. Hays was a better hitter than Rojas and the Phillies were willing to sacrifice a little bit of defense by sliding Brandon Marsh over to center and putting Hays in left if it lengthened the lineup.
Fast forward a few weeks.
Hays is on the I.L., recovering from a hamstring strain, and Brandon Marsh has been flat out brutal at the plate, despite a pair of hits in his most recent start.
On Thursday night, in a game against Washington that probably held more importance in the Phillies clubhouse – considering their recent play – than one would have expected for a mid-August matchup against a Nationals team going nowhere, there was Rojas in center and Weston Wilson in left.
We know all about the night that Wilson had – becoming just the ninth Phillie, and first as a rookie, to ever hit for a cycle – but it shouldn’t completely overshadow Rojas’ performance.
Rojas had two hits and three RBI. Yes, he stranded two runners in the first inning when he struck out and bounced into an easy ground out at second with the bases loaded in the fourth, so it wasn’t a perfect night, but two hits – regardless of the RBIs, is huge.
In fact, any way that Rojas can get on base is a big deal. He creates havoc on the bases with his speed. He sets up the big hitters at the top of the order if he’s on base. It’s why the Phillies have been staunch in their stance that their lineup is at its best when Rojas is in it.
Johan Rojas bots is crazy. Where can I find more? https://t.co/6pizbw3odi
— Will Bullitt (@WillBullitt) August 16, 2024
But he has to earn it to be in it, and for much of the season, he has not earned it. His plate approach never improved despite all the talk from the winter and spring training about him making adjustments and becoming a better hitter so that he wasn’t an automatic out like he was in the playoffs a season ago.
The Phillies just wanted him to get on base once a game – whether by hit or walk – and continue to play good defense in centerfield. That would be enough.
Early in the season, his defense was spottier than usual. He wasn’t getting on base. Sure, he would get some lucky hits – either bloops just over the infield or beat out an infield single that he mashed about 45 feet with an exit velocity of about 60 MPH. But he wasn’t walking, or even taking pitches. There was a lot of chase and a lot of uncertainty.
It never seemed to find some consistency. He was sent down to Triple-A earlier this season, and only recalled because of injuries. Even then, he looked lost still, prompting president Dave Dombrowski to trade for Hays.
But that trade may have been a wakeup call for Rojas, for since the Hays acquisition, Rojas has been a different hitter.
Johan Rojas since the All-Star Break:
.310/.370/.357
13 hits
2 doubles
4 BBs
2 stolen basesHe has at least 1 hit in 10 of 17 games since. pic.twitter.com/8p2v0GIq46
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) August 16, 2024
It’s a small sample size of 11 games (eight starts), but Rojas is 10-for-31 (.323) with three walks for an on base percentage of .382 and an OPS of .770.
But it’s more than just those particular numbers. He’s hitting the ball with more authority. No longer is it just a weak bouncer to the right side of the infield when he makes contact. He’s driving the ball with more regularity. He’s being more selective and not chasing pitches either, having struck out just five times in those 34 plate appearances.
“He’s making really good decisions right now,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s not chasing as much, making solid contact, hitting line drives and the ground balls that we like to see.”
It’s been enough of a sample to make the Phillies think about how best to deploy the outfield going forward.
Rojas still has his warts. He’s far from a refined hitter. He was thrown out on the bases trying to stretch one of his singles into a double on Thursday. He threw to the wrong bag twice in Wednesday’s game against Miami. He unnecessarily jumped to catch a ball in the second inning against Washington and had it pop out of his glove for a double. And despite all the work he has put in, he’s still a subpar bunter.
“The one thing that’s good about it is that the first one (on Wednesday) when he threw to the wrong base, later in the game, he had the same play, and after we talked to him he threw to second base,” Thomson said. “He’s going to make youthful mistakes at times.”
When he does the little things right, he’s definitely a difference maker.
“He makes electric plays and does things on the bases that brings energy to the club,” Thomson said.
The Phillies have to decide over the next six weeks if the good he brings outweighs the bad enough to justify regular postseason time. In fact, they have to figure it out in total, because they have four guys to consider for two spots. They traded for Hays, so he’s likely going to be given a significant opportunity once he comes off the I.L., which will likely be sometime next week. Wilson has put his stake in the ground to at least get some swings against left-handed pitching – and he has the versatility to play several positions.
Then there’s Marsh, who has been a disappointment, and Rojas, who has been an enigma for most of the year but is starting to show consistency.
If he can maintain that consistency for the next six weeks, then there is a world where he finally makes the Phillies look smart for believing in him this season.
