One day after receiving the heartbreaking news that his father had passed away unexpectedly, Miguel Rojas decided to play the Dodgers game in Toronto this Wednesday because that is what his father would have wantedaccording to the veteran Venezuelan infielder.
Miguel Rojas, one of the leaders of the Dodgers and hero of the last World Series, had a day full of enormous emotions at the Rogers Center, where he made very good defensive plays, but also made a strange mistake that made the difference in the Blue Jays’ 4-3 victory over Los Angeles in the last game of the series.
Rojas was removed from the Dodgers’ lineup on Tuesday shortly before tip-off due to the death of his father. On Wednesday, he expressed himself about it on his social networks.
Miguel Rojas’ message for the death of his father
“With immense pain on behalf of the entire Rojas family, it is my turn today to let everyone who had the opportunity to meet and share with my father know, Miguel Rojas ‘Micky’, who died suddenly yesterday, April 7 in the afternoon,” the infielder wrote in an Instagram story.
“I want to heartily thank everyone who has contacted me and my entire family to show their love and let us know how loved my dad was throughout his life. May God receive him in his glory and rest in peace.”
Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ starting pitcher on Wednesday against the Blue Jays, paid tribute to the Rojas family by including the initials “MR” on his cap. Ohtani and Rojas have a good friendship.
Ohtani, after the game, expressed support for his teammate: “I’m sure it’s been a difficult day for ‘Miggy’. He was there, he made some very good plays. We just want to make sure he feels well supported.”
Rojas’ defensive mistake makes the difference in LA’s defeat
By the way, the Japanese Ohtani pitched 6 innings without allowing an earned run (1 unearned) in another excellent performance, but the Dodgers, playing poor defense, let a two-run lead go and saw their five-game winning streak broken in their game tour, which was still very successful (5-1).
The difference run was scored in the eighth inning when a throw by catcher Will Smith to second dark could not be caught by Rojaswho was trying to put runner Andrés Giménez out. On the play, marked as an error in the receiver’s throw, Davis Schneider scored 4-3.
Rojas explains why he decided to stay in Toronto and play
When speaking with reporters about the tragic news and his emotions this day, Miguel Rojas said that he even wanted to play in Tuesday’s game, but that supervisor Dave Roberts decided it was better to leave him out of the game.
The 37-year-old revealed that his father spoke shortly before Tuesday’s game and that they were both excited for his first game in Toronto since the World Series, when he saved Los Angeles with an epic home run in the ninth inning of Game 7. However, 40 minutes before the game, Rojas received the emergency call with the news that his father had suffered cardiac arrest.
Rojas also explained to reporters that he decided to stay with the team in Toronto because there were no direct flights to Venezuela and that flying through connections in the United States it would be almost impossible to arrive in time for the funeral this Wednesday.
“So “I decided to continue doing what my father wanted for me, which is to play baseball,” Rojas said. “My father is probably watching me play.” from the best seat there is. Playing today’s game was the most important thing for me.”
Keep reading:
– The Dodgers are mourning the death of Davey Lopes, legendary second baseman
– Miguel Rojas savors his last season in the Major Leagues and envisions his future
– Mookie Betts’ injury leaves the Dodgers without one of their stars for several weeks
