Categories: Features

Phillies teammates support Johan Rojas after Triple-A demotion

Johan Rojas was sent down Monday. (Don Otto/Phillies Nation)

Kyle Schwarber understands how Johan Rojas probably feels right now.

Upon star shortstop Trea Turner returning from the injured list on Monday, the Phillies optioned the light-hitting center fielder Rojas to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room on the active roster.

Schwarber, Philadelphia’s leadoff slugger, was demoted to the minor leagues twice early in his career. He knows the sting of having that status as a big leaguer taken away.

“Obviously, it sucks to get sent down,” Schwarber told Phillies Nation on Monday. “You don’t ever want to be sent down. But when you do, you kind of have two options: You can either go down there and pout about it, or you can go down there and work on things and be better for it.”

After making his debut with the Chicago Cubs in 2015, Schwarber was sent down for a quick stint before another promotion came for the rest of the season. Then in 2017 — the season after he returned early from a torn ACL to play World Series hero in the Cubs’ first championship in 108 years — he was optioned in June with the worst batting average in the majors at the time.

“After we won the World Series, I came off injury and I thought I was on top of the world,” he said. “Then I was in Triple-A the next year.”

Both times he was sent down, Schwarber understood he was a key cog in the short and long term in Chicago. Both stays in the minors were brief, and the left-handed hitter was back up in time for the stretch run and the playoffs. The Phillies believe Rojas’ situation can be similar if he makes the necessary improvements in Lehigh Valley.

“I think the biggest thing (for Rojas) is knowing he’s obviously still a big part of what we’re gonna do here in the future and this year, too,” Schwarber said. “I think it’s more of an opportunity for him to figure out some things.”

Phillies manager Rob Thomson said Monday that the Phillies want Rojas to put together better at-bats and continue working on bunting for hits in the minors. The 23-year-old hit .235/.271/.295 in 58 games for Philadelphia this season, and his defense in center was not elite as it was last year as a rookie. He’ll work on making his way back to the bigs starting Tuesday night in Allentown, batting leadoff for the IronPigs.

“He’s got the talent,” Turner said. “It’s obviously there. It’s about unlocking it, evolving and growing. I got sent down, and I think how you use that as motivation is a big factor.”

Turner was sent to the minors by the Nationals as a rookie in 2016 to alleviate a logjam in the infield. A natural shortstop, he was tasked with learning the outfield in Triple-A. After a month, he returned to Washington as the team’s center fielder for the remainder of the season.

He believes Rojas has the ability to go down and make the adjustments to his game needed for another promotion.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulders and he’s a talented player,” Turner said, “so he’ll be fine.”

Thomson stood by his statement on Monday that the best version of his club includes Rojas in center field, playing his game at a level the Phillies deem high enough. More hits will need to fall, and he’ll need to track down some additional fly balls the way he did last year. Reaching that point will have to start away from the major-league team.

“Now it’s time for you to kind of grab it by the horns and come back better for it,” Schwarber said. “I feel like that’s what he’s gonna do. He’s that kind of personality to where he’s gonna go down there, find a way to work and find a way to get himself right back here as quick as he can.”

Tim Kelly contributed to this story.