Bryce Harper approached Johan Rojas in the batting cages prior to Tuesday’s game against the Pirates.
“Stay inside the ball,” Harper told Rojas.
Rojas, who was unexpectedly promoted from Double A to the majors in July, wasn’t supposed to be here. It was his second career plate appearance against Pirates stud closer David Bednar. Rojas went up and pulled a 98 mph fastball way above the zone to score a run on July 29. It was one of the best at-bats of his young career.
There was some thought that Rob Thomson should pinch hit for Rojas when his spot came up again against Bednar in the 10th inning with the go-ahead run at second.
Rojas is in the majors for his elite defense in center field, but he has also earned Rob Thomson’s trust against high velocity right handers like Bednar. Thomson stuck with Rojas.
He took the first pitch, a fastball down the middle for a strike. He then swung at a curveball way out the zone, held up his swing on another curveball in the same spot and then got the pitch he wanted. It was a high and inside fastball that Rojas was able to ground through the middle for the game-winning run.
Rojas remembered what Harper told him.
“I actually did that tonight,” Rojas said through a team interpreter. “It helped me. Little things like that go a long way in my career.”
Rojas’ 10th inning walk-off clinched a second straight postseason berth for the Phillies, who quickly went from being an organization with an uncertain future to legitimate World Series contenders.
It was only two years ago when Harper finished his 2021 MVP campaign with a plea for the organization to get younger and develop more talent from within.
“We just can’t keep going out and buying and buying and buying. We need homegrown talent,” Harper said on a Zoom call in October 2021. “When you look at teams that have homegrown talent, those are the teams that have success. I think as a whole, we need our minor leagues to be better.”
The vision he had for the organization is taking shape. His best friend and fellow Las Vegas native Bryson Stott, 25, looks like a top 10 second baseman for years to come. Brandon Marsh, 25, was quietly one of the best young hitters in baseball this year. Alec Bohm, 26, is a solid run-producing third baseman. Cristopher Sánchez, 26, all of a sudden has one of the best changeups in baseball and has established himself as a reliable starter.
His two youngest teammates, Rojas, 23, and reliever Orion Kerkering, 22, were named the Phillies’ best minor league players of 2023 and are expected to be contributors in October.
Harper, drenched in beer and champagne and wearing a pair of Phanatic slides to navigate the soggy clubhouse floor, turned his head to a corner of the room occupied by Phillies front office executives taking in the celebration.
“You really use your whole 40-man,” Harper said. “When you’re a really good team and you have an opportunity to win, you’re gonna use a lot of guys on that 40-man. It goes back to the scouting department. It goes back to all the people that have worked hard all year and year’s past. Get guys in the draft and get guys the opportunity to get to the big leagues.
“Kerkering was unbelievable the other night. The way he threw the ball. I think he’s going to have a really good chance to make the postseason roster.”
The Phillies have struck a balance that other big market clubs have failed to do this season. They have five players who have signed contracts of at least $100 million and a handful of other veterans on big money deals. Phillies collapses of the past have shown that having stars in their prime is not enough. The best teams are built with a mixture of talent young and old from inside and outside the organization.
And sometimes, you have to hit the jackpot on a move made on the margins.
The signing of Jeff Hoffman to a minor league contract in early April was just that. He was promoted in May and became the Phillies’ best right-handed reliever during the second half of the season.
Hoffman stranded the automatic runner on second for the third time this season in the top of the 10th to set up Rojas’ walk-off. The 30-year-old will pitch in his first career postseason game next week.
“I never stopped putting in the work,” Hoffman said. “I never stopped believing in myself. I have an incredible support staff behind me at home. We knew that this year was going to be a special one. The journey now is better than I could have ever imagined.”
The 2023 Phillies postseason roster will feature many familiar faces from the beloved 2022 squad. Phillies players who have experienced multiple clubhouse celebrations made sure the first timers had their moments. Just about every member of the Phillies poured their entire beer on Rojas as the chorus of “Dancing On My Own” played. Kyle Schwarber and Garrett Stubbs hyped up Kerkering and his “backdoor” slider. Gregory Soto and Stubbs had a dance off.
“I watched every single game from home,” Rojas said. “All I could think of was next year, I really want to be here. I really really want to be a part of this city.”
“Hopefully we can build off of last year,” Zack Wheeler said. “The run that we went on, just do a little better this year.”
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