Rojas' robbery of Tatis wins Play of the Week

Josh Rojas turned in one of the few bright spots in an otherwise dreary 12-3 loss to the Padres on Wednesday night when the D-backs right fielder robbed Fernando Tatis Jr. of an eighth-inning homer. His high-flying catch was rewarded with the first Play of the Week honor of his career, and it's the first time a D-backs player has won the award since its inception in 2019.

Rojas did it all with his eyes closed, apparently, even though he swears they were open.

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When the ball left Tatis' bat, Rojas knew that it was hit well, but he thought he might have a play on it. He turned to his right, and the ball sliced a bit. Rojas then turned to his left and felt the warning track under his feet.

"I just knew I was close to the wall, and I knew that I could jump and catch it from where I was at," Rojas said. "So I didn't want to get too close to the wall and get hung up. So I just jumped from where I was and then once I caught it and hit the wall, that's when I realized it was actually going to be a homer. But off the bat and even tracking it down, I didn't know if it was going to be gone for sure or not."

Rojas took a look at the replay after the game, and there's a photo of the play that shows that Rojas' eyes appeared to be closed as he leaped against the wall.

"My eyes are closed -- that kind of stinks," Rojas said. "I swear I saw it the whole way, but I guess I closed my eyes when I hit the wall."

Rojas started in right field because the D-backs placed Kole Calhoun on the injured list before the game. Calhoun joined fellow outfielders Ketel Marte and Tim Locastro on the IL.

The D-backs have used Pavin Smith, a first baseman until he played some corner outfield last year, in center field, and they have used Rojas, Wyatt Mathisen and Josh VanMeter -- all infielders by trade -- at various times on the corners.

"A lot of guys that are doing their part, no matter where that's at," Rojas said.

Rojas said it's possible he may have robbed a player of a home run while playing left field at one point in Triple-A, but it was difficult for him to recall.

When Rojas was a kid, he and his friends would throw balls to each other near a wall and practice robbing home runs. While it looks easy, he knows it's not.

So here's his advice to young outfielders out there:

"I think just timing it, not getting too close to the wall, giving yourself some space," he said. "And, I guess, close your eyes. I didn't know that my eyes closed."