It’s an Impressive start for the Phillies star as he shows outstanding skills in the recent…

Johan Rojas recently finished his inaugural week in Triple-A, marking not only the beginning of this season but also a significant milestone in his career. Following a direct promotion from Double-A last summer, Rojas assumed the role of the Phillies’ center fielder during the latter part of the season and into the postseason. However, due to a subpar performance by the young outfielder primarily known for his defensive skills in 2024, Philadelphia made the decision to send him to the minor leagues on Monday. This move was made in conjunction with Trea Turner’s return from injury, with the intention of allowing Rojas to focus on improving his batting and bunting techniques.

During his time with the Lehigh Valley team, Rojas has shown promising results. In the past week, he participated in five out of the six games against Norfolk, achieving a batting average of .364/.391/.545 in 22 at-bats. Additionally, he managed to hit a home run, steal a base, and execute a sacrifice bunt. Notably, Rojas even secured a bunt single in the same game where he hit a home run.

Rojas has demonstrated a keen focus on the specific areas of improvement requested by the Phillies, albeit in a limited capacity at a lower level. During the spring, he dedicated himself to perfecting bunt singles, but unfortunately struggled to execute them effectively during the regular season. Despite this setback, Rojas showcased a stronger performance at the plate during his initial appearance for the IronPigs, following his demotion from the Phillies after posting a .566 OPS in 58 games.

Upon Rojas’ assignment to the Triple-A team, Phillies manager Rob Thomson reiterated his belief that the optimal version of the club involves Rojas assuming the role of center fielder. The team remains hopeful that Rojas can rebound and exhibit a level of play closer to his previous form after a reset in Triple-A. Notably, his offensive contributions were lacking during his time in the major leagues this year, and his defensive prowess did not reach the elite level displayed during his rookie season. However, Rojas’ teammates, drawing from their own experiences of being sent down, maintain a belief in his ability to swiftly improve and make a stronger comeback to the team.

Should Rojas successfully earn his way back onto the Phillies roster and secure a spot in the lineup, his current stint in Lehigh Valley could serve as a catalyst for his development, providing a solid foundation from which he can make the necessary improvements.