PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas made a strong impression this offseason in the Dominican Republic and aims to carry that momentum into the 2025 season.
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Rojas was honored as the Dominican Winter League Rookie of the Year and won a Gold Glove for his stellar defense in center field. The 24-year-old posted a .295 batting average, a .771 OPS, and stole 23 bases in 30 games without being caught while playing for Gigantes del Cibao.
While excelling with Gigantes, Johan Rojas injured his right shoulder during the playoffs while sliding headfirst into second base. The injury has limited his ability to throw in camp, but he is expected to resume soon.
“I’ll be throwing again soon,” Rojas said through a team interpreter. “It was bothering me, but not too much. I played through it and finished winter ball, but we decided to pause for a bit. I’m confident I’ll be throwing here soon.”
When asked about how it feels to throw, Rojas admitted to some lingering discomfort but noted that it has improved since the initial injury.
“It feels a little uncomfortable,” he said. “But it has really gotten better.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson downplayed concerns about the injury.
“We’re not really worried about the shoulder,” Thomson said. “We’re just being cautious. He’ll probably start throwing in about a week, and I expect a quick ramp-up. He’s still getting plenty of at-bats.”
After a down year at the plate for the Phillies in 2024, Rojas made a strong impression offensively in the Dominican Winter League. In 111 plate appearances, he posted a .382 on-base percentage, drew 12 walks, and scored 20 runs.
Reflecting on his winter league experience, Rojas said, “I felt great. It’s a very competitive league, and it has helped me develop a lot as a player.”
Rojas hit .243 with 32 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in 120 games for the Phillies in 2024. The previous year, he batted .302 in 59 games with 14 steals.
Thomson praised Rojas’ adjustments at the plate this offseason, highlighting his improved mechanics.
“He’s slowed down his movement, made his load smaller, and his swing is more under control—more of a line-drive approach, which is exactly what we want,” Thomson said. “I like what I see so far.”
Rojas’ speed remains an elite asset, ranking in the 100th percentile in sprint speed per Baseball Savant. Defensively, he excels with a 93rd-percentile fielding run value, a 97th-percentile arm rating, and a 93rd-percentile range rating.
“He’s as good as they come,” Thomson said. “He’s a top-three defensive center fielder in baseball. If he can contribute offensively, then we’ve really got something.”
Rojas served as the designated hitter in the Phillies’ 5-4 win over the Rays at Charlotte Sports Park on Tuesday. He flied out, lined out, and was hit by a pitch on his shin guard in the third but stayed in the game and later scored on an Edmundo Sosa single.
This season, Rojas will compete for outfield playing time alongside newly signed Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh, and Nick Castellanos. His best opportunity will likely come against left-handed pitchers, though the Phillies want Marsh to get more at-bats against lefties this spring. Last season, Marsh struggled against left-handers, hitting .192 in 90 plate appearances with 33 strikeouts, while Rojas hit just .212 in 106 plate appearances against southpaws.
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