The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched an unbelievable Game 7 victory, fueled by the heroics of a player who hadn’t recorded a hit in an entire calendar month. Veteran utility man Miguel Rojas, who had just three at-bats in the NLDS, zero in the NLCS, and 10 in the World Series, delivered a defining moment in his Dodgers career with his second-to-last at-bat.
Rojas has long been recognized as the Dodgers’ clubhouse leader, often the one to deliver inspiring speeches at team dinners and special events. With one out in the ninth inning and the bat in his hands, he launched a solo home run—his first since September 19—to tie the game and extend the Dodgers’ season.
The drama continued as Yoshinobu Yamamoto came in to close out the final 2⅔ innings. Then, in the 11th inning, Will Smith hit a solo home run that gave the Dodgers their first lead of the game and ultimately secured the championship.
Now a free agent, Rojas spoke candidly about what lies ahead for him.
“I want to pursue the next step of my career, and I think that’s something I’m going to talk to [president of baseball operations] Andrew Friedman and [general manager] Brandon Gomes about, be really open about what my goals are,” Rojas said. “Hopefully, we can get to a point where I don’t let myself be a free agent. I just want to be here, and hopefully I can do something before free agency hits. Hopefully, it syncs up with what they want me to do.”
After helping the Dodgers become baseball’s first back-to-back champions in a quarter century, Rojas made it clear where his priorities lie heading into his 13th MLB season.
“This is my priority,” he stated. “I want to sign here. I already told the guys my desire to be with this organization. I think we deserve another run.”
Stay tuned for more updates on the Dodgers as they look to build on their incredible World Series triumph.
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https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/dodgers-world-series-hero-declares-hopes-for-next-year-as-contract-expires-10979516