Miguel Rojas wins 19th annual Roy Campanella Award
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that infielder Miguel Rojas was named the winner of the 19th annual Roy Campanella Award, which is given to the Dodger player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher. The award, which was voted upon by Dodger uniformed personnel, will be presented to Rojas by Campanella’s daughter, Joni Campanella Roan, and his grandson, Cari Bell, during pregame ceremonies tomorrow night.
Rojas, 35, becomes the 14th different Dodger to win the Campanella Award, and it’s just the fifth instance of a player 35 years or older taking home the honor. The others were Jamey Carroll in 2010 (36), Chase Utley in 2016 and 2018 (37, 39) and Justin Turner in 2020 (35).
Rafael Furcal received the inaugural Roy Campanella Award in 2006 and since then the honor has been awarded to Russell Martin (2007), James Loney (2008), Juan Pierre (2009), Carroll (2010), Matt Kemp (2011), A.J. Ellis (2012), Clayton Kershaw (2013-14), Zack Greinke (2015), Utley (2016, 2018), Turner (2017, 2019-20), Chris Taylor (2021), Freddie Freeman (2022) and Jason Heyward (2023).
Rojas returned to the Dodgers in 2023 and signed a two-year deal, coming back to the organization where he made his Major League debut on June 8, 2014. Prior to his return, the slick-fielding shortstop was known as the player who made the signature defensive play while at third base in Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter on June 18, 2014. In the ensuing years as a Marlin, he became known as a Gold Glove caliber defender and one of the veteran leaders in the Miami clubhouse. Following an up-and-down 2023 in Los Angeles, “Miggy-Ro” has been invaluable to the Dodgers in 2024.
The native of Venezuela has made 84 starts this season, with 65 of them coming at shortstop where he has posted a .992 fielding percentage while making just two errors. Among players that have appeared in 50 games at the position, Rojas’ fielding percentage leads all big league shortstops.
Rojas has enjoyed one of his better offensive seasons as well, slashing .287/.337/.416 with six homers, 21 doubles, eight stolen bases and 36 RBI in just 303 at-bats. His .753 OPS is the highest in a full season in in his entire career and his .287 batting average is his highest in a full season since hitting .290 in 2017. He’s hit .300 (60-for-200) vs. right-handed pitchers, .340 (55-for-162) on the road and .299 (23-for-77) with runners in scoring position this season.
At one point this year in late June, the Dodgers were 24-0 when Rojas recorded a hit in the game. Despite not playing everyday, he’s also enjoyed two separate hitting streaks of 10 and nine this season.
In addition to his contributions on the field, Rojas has been a large clubhouse presence since the day he arrived, instituting players-only, series-victory celebratory toasts in the locker room when the Dodgers take a series or record a sweep. Rojas will kick off the toasts with a few words and then throw it over to the “player of the game.” This year, he also helped Mookie Betts learn the finer points of shortstop and has expressed his desire to play the rest of his career in Los Angeles.
Campanella was a three-time National League Most Valuable Player (1951, 1953 and 1955), eight-time All-Star and a member of the 1955 World Championship team. He played in five World Series and his 142 RBI in 1953 set a franchise record, since surpassed by Tommy Davis (153 in 1962). In 1,215 career games during a 10-year career, all with the Dodgers, he batted .276 with 242 home runs and 856 RBI.
He began his career in the Negro Leagues, establishing himself as one of the top catchers in the league before joining the Dodger organization in 1946. Campanella played for Class B Nashua of the New England League, making that club the first integrated affiliated baseball team in the United States.
On Jan. 29, 1958, just as the Dodgers were making final preparations for their move to Los Angeles, Campanella was involved in a tragic car accident that paralyzed him from the neck down, marking the end of his playing career. On May 7, 1959, a Major League record-setting 93,103 fans filled the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on “Roy Campanella Night” for an exhibition game between the Dodgers and Yankees.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 and was among the first three Dodgers to have their uniform numbers retired alongside Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. Campanella remained active in the Dodgers’ Community Relations Department until his death on June 26, 1993, at the age of 71.