Centerfield has largely been a black hole for the Phillies ever since the departure of Shane Victorino a decade ago, and this current team is no different. After suffering through the likes of Roman Quinn, Bradley Zimmer and nobody’s favorite Odúbel Herrera, fans thought they found an answer in defensive wizard Johan Rojas.
Unfortunately, Rojas’ bat has been unplayable at the big league level and he was demoted to Triple-A this past summer. The 25-year-old’s value looked like it was at a nadir only a few weeks ago, but a solid campaign in winter ball may be changing that. It's coming at the right time, with the Winter Meetings around the corner.
Johan Rojas has never been lauded for his offensive skills, but there’s a big difference between a glove-first player and a glove-only player. His 2023 rookie year showed some unsustainable signs of life with a .302 batting average in 59 games, but he crashed back down to earth to the tune of a .237/.279/.312 slash line over the next two big league seasons.
Rojas became truly unplayable as this past season wore on, and trade deadline acquisition Harrison Bader not only took over the starting centerfield job but pushed Rojas off the roster completely. Rojas rebounded a bit in 35 Triple-A games, slashing .279/.338/.361, but was left off the playoff roster due to a quad injury.
Phillies' Johan Rojas raising his value with Winter Meetings looming
With fans clamoring for Bader to return on a new contract, Rojas has become an afterthought in the eyes of many. However, an excellent showing in the Dominican Winter League may allow the Phillies to salvage something from their erstwhile centerfielder. In 28 games with the Gigantes del Cibao, a team that employs former Phillies jobbers Jorge Bonifacio and Deivy Grullón, Rojas has posted a rock-solid .307/.398/.396 line while pilfering 15 bags in 18 attempts.
There’s no use pretending that a productive winter in the Caribbean means Rojas will all of a sudden become an All-Star-level hitter in 2026. Fortunately, he doesn’t have to do that to hold value for the Phillies. Just being a league average, or even slightly below, offensive contributor would be more than enough given Rojas’ elite speed and defense.
The Phillies may not want to recommit to an everyday role for Rojas in 2026, but he would still be useful as a bench player who can pinch run and substitute defensively while not killing them at the plate.
Another option would be dangling him in trade talks, during the Winter Meetings and after. No team will cough up a highly touted youngster or established big leaguer for a reclamation project like Rojas, but his impressive showing this winter could lead to him being dealt for another change-of-scenery candidate or sputtering prospect that the Phillies think they can coax more out of. He could also be used to round out a larger package for a more impactful player at a position of need like catcher or all three outfield positions.
Ultimately, it’s tough to tell if a good winter ball campaign signals an offensive resurgence for Rojas. However, for a player whose value seemed all but evaporated only a few weeks ago, it’s great to see him put himself back on the map and perhaps back in the Phillies’ plans.