Rojas at career-high in HRs
Shortstop gets chance to play as a regular
MIAMI — Miguel Rojas hit four home runs in his last season in Triple-A, but was reluctant to cite that as an example of his power because the ball really carries in Albuquerque, N.M.
Certainly what he has done in the first month this season for the Marlins is more impressive. He hit his fourth homer Sunday to help power a 3-0 win against the Rockies.
Prior to this season the shortstop had totaled four homers in four seasons.
“I’m trying to get a hit every day. Try to hit the ball on the barrel and if the ball goes out like today, I’ll take it,” he said.
Prior to this season Rojas was a super utility player who was known more for his variety of gloves than for his bat. The Venezuelan native said the difference has been getting the chance to play as a regular for the first time.
“I know I’m capable, I just have to play every day,” said Rojas, who is tied for the team lead in homers. “I feel like when you get more at-bats you’ve got more freedom to pick your spots and to put good swings on the ball. I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball hard, just unlucky. [Saturday] I hit the ball hard three times and I didn’t get any hits. Today I didn’t hit the ball that hard but it was a good pitch to hit.
“I’m happy that it can help the team and happy that the numbers are there.” Pitching gains depth
With the return of WeiYin Chen and now Dan Straily getting set for his first start of the season Monday, the experience level of the Marlins’ rotation has made a giant leap in experience.
The two veterans have a 254 big-league starts between them. Just a week ago, Miami was utilizing five pitchers with a combined 81 starts in the majors, and Jose Urena has 55 of those.
Along with the obvious benefit, evident in Chen’s winning return Saturday, the added impact is a greater depth of pitching talent in the organization that can be tapped as needed.
Trevor Richards, who last week struck out 10 while holding the Dodgers to one hit in 4 2⁄3 innings in Los Angeles, was sent to Triple-A when Chen returned. Dillon Peters, who also impressed in his latest start, is expected to follow the same route when Straily is activated.
Straily went through a similar indoctrination as Richards and Peters early in his career and can see how they will benefit from returning to the minors after having some success at the highest level.
“I’ve been there. Struck out 11 Astros one game, got sent down five minutes after the game,” Straily said. “It really helped me, honestly helped me understand what I was trying to do. It was a big learning experience.
“You don’t ever accept it when you get sent down. Hopefully, it puts a chip on people’s shoulder to keep pushing everybody.”
Guzman sizzles
One of the Marlins’ best pitching prospects, Jorge Guzman, made an impressive season debut Saturday for Class A –Advanced Jupiter with four scoreless innings. The 22-year-old is the Marlins’ No. 3 prospect and key acquisition in the Giancarlo Stanton trade.
The right-hander, who regularly hits and tops 100 mph with his fastball, used it to strike out seven while allowing two hits and three walks. He threw 68 pitches, 38 for strikes.