Miggy Ro's magic? Dodgers now 23-0 when Rojas collects a hit

CHICAGO -- There may not be a perfect explanation or any rhyme or reason behind one of the most unique streaks going in baseball right now. Even Miguel Rojas, the man behind it, can’t explain it.

The Dodgers are 23-0 this season in games Rojas has tallied at least one hit, including Monday’s series opener against the White Sox, a 3-0 win at Guaranteed Rate Field.

“I don't know,” Rojas said. “That's part of my job, trying to get on base, trying to get hits. I'm glad that the team has been finding the wins every single time.”

Not only did Rojas and the Dodgers extend the streak on Monday, but the shortstop was at the center of Los Angeles’ game-winning rally. He led off the seventh inning with a double into the left-field corner against right-hander Steven Wilson.

Rojas scored two batters later, when Enrique Hernández knocked an RBI double down the left-field line, breaking a scoreless tie.

“The numbers don't lie,” Hernández quipped. “When [Rojas] gets a hit, we win.”

Rojas said he first became aware of the streak a few weeks ago, during the Dodgers’ series against the Yankees in New York. He also acknowledged it’s been tough to ignore, considering all the messages fans have sent him on social media about it.

“The love from the Dodgers fans and the people who are watching baseball, they think this is pretty cool,” Rojas said. “It's a pretty cool streak. I'm not gonna deny it. I'm just gonna continue to have fun with it. But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter if I get a hit or not. The most important part is to win a game.”

Last Tuesday’s game in Colorado was perhaps the most tense of the streak. Rojas was 0-for-3 entering the ninth inning, and Los Angeles trailed 9-4. Even after Rojas singled, the Dodgers had a lot of work to do offensively.

Rojas said as soon as he got to first base after his single, he predicted to Dodgers first-base coach Clayton McCullough that they would win the game. The Dodgers scored seven times in a thrilling 11-9 comeback win.

“Whatever this is, I'm just trying to get my job done, which is getting on base, trying to get hits,” Rojas said. “It’s been great, and I’m just gonna enjoy it and ride it out until we’re 40-0.”

Rojas got his first hit out of the way early on Monday, knocking a single off White Sox starter Garrett Crochet in the fourth inning. It was part of a 2-for-4 night as the 35-year-old continues his bounceback 2024 season.

Rojas hit .236/.290/.322 in 124 games last season. In 49 games this year, he’s slashing .284/.324/.440. For context, his best slugging percentage in a 162-game season is .392, in 2021 with the Marlins.

That production is especially key for the Dodgers right now, after Mookie Betts fractured his left hand on June 16. Betts is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, and Rojas has started six of the Dodgers’ seven games since Betts went down.

“Everybody knows what he brings with the defense,” Hernández said of Rojas. “He puts up a quality, professional at-bat each and every time, and he's finding the grass, he’s finding hits. He's been huge for us.”

Rojas figured to receive a more prominent role after Betts’ injury, and it’s something he took on with great care. He’s been putting in extra work behind the scenes to make sure he’s able to post every day and handle the physical burden that comes with playing shortstop. He recognizes the importance of his availability to the Dodgers right now.

“I don't want them to look at me as someone who could go down if he plays too much,” Rojas said. “So I've been taking care of my body, doing a little bit more treatments before and after the games, and doing everything that I can to stay on the field. Because I know if I'm healthy, I can play, and I can play the position. I can lock it down until Mookie is back.

“My mentality is just to continue to be healthy for the team and do whatever I can do to stay on the field.”

Even though there may not be any rationale behind Rojas and the Dodgers’ streak, they’ve embraced it.

“I'll take it,” manager Dave Roberts said. “As long as he keeps getting hits, I know he's happy, and we win baseball games.”