Rojas: 'A dream come true' to make Angels 

Most baseball fans and players have dreamed of making the big league club for their hometown team.

For Anaheim native José Rojas, that dream has come true.

Rojas, a utility infielder who slashed .333/.488/.667 in 22 Cactus League games, will be on the Angels' Opening Day roster. The decision was made official by manager Joe Maddon during a Saturday morning media conference.

Rojas, a 36th-round pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, said the news is surreal and that he is ready to help his club.

“Obviously, it’s a dream come true,” he said. “It’s time to get after it and contribute to the team.”

The left-handed-hitting Rojas will fill a utility role off the bench. He saw playing time around the infield and in left field this spring.

Maddon said he took pleasure in letting Rojas know he made the big league roster for the first time in his career.

“A lot of times, you have to tell guys they’re being sent down and then you get this opportunity sometimes to tell guys that they’re here,” Maddon said.

Rojas, who has yet to be added to the 40-man roster, had an uphill battle to make the Opening Day club. He came into camp as a non-roster invitee and competed against fellow infielders Franklin Barreto and Luis Rengifo for the Angels' last bench spot.

The door opened for Rojas after Barreto was sidelined by a right elbow injury and Rengifo was optioned on Wednesday.

Rojas has posted solid numbers over his Minor League career. In 411 games, he slashed .292/.350/.502, while hitting 31 homers with 107 RBIs to go along with a .938 OPS for the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees in 2019.

Rojas said he continued to work towards his ultimate goal of making the Majors, even when faced with obstacles.

“The odds might be against me, but I believe that when you have faith, anything can happen,” he said.

Despite the adversity to make the Major League club, Maddon said Rojas has kept himself focused even when he’s fallen short.

“Guys like [Rojas] who have done so well, they’re always going to say, ‘Why, why, why,’ and, ‘Why didn’t I get this opportunity?' But [Rojas] never said that out loud,” Maddon added.

Rojas is as much of a hometown player as it gets. He graduated from Anaheim High School, then attended nearby Fullerton College to start his collegiate career before he transferred to Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif.

Despite being a 28-year-old rookie, Maddon said Rojas’ ability on the field speaks louder than his age.

“Don’t worry about the birth certificate,” Maddon said. “This guy is a really good baseball player.”