Johan Rojas DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas (shoulder) has not been throwing during the early part of camp but is expected to be cleared next week. Rojas sustained a shoulder injury during the Dominican Winter League and has been sidelined due to a precautionary measure. However, seeing that Rojas is nearing a return to action suggests the injury was not very serious. Last season, the 24-year-old logged a career-high 120 games with the Phillies. He held a .242/.279/.322 slash line. He tallied three home runs and swiped 25 bags. He was graded as an elite defender as he placed in the 93rd percentile in range and 97th in arm strength. He also placed in the 100th percentile in sprint speed. When healthy, Rojas will likely serve as the backup option in center field and carry little fantasy value.

Philadelphia Phillies rookie outfielder Johan Rojas (forearm) left Tuesday's game early against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers in the seventh inning after getting hit in the right forearm with a pitch. Rojas said he is OK, though, so it may just be a day-to-day type of injury. Before leaving the contest, Rojas went 2-for-3 with two singles, an RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout to raise his batting average to .234 on the year. He was replaced by Cristian Pache, who would see more starts in center field for the Phillies if Rojas' injury keeps him out beyond Tuesday. The 23-year-old Rojas is mainly useful for his glove on defense and his speed. He has already been optioned to the minors at one point in 2023. He entered Tuesday's game hitting just .227/.262/.284 with just two home runs and 20 RBI while contributing a career-high 16 steals in his second MLB season.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas will start in center field and hit ninth in Friday's season opener versus Spencer Strider and the rival Atlanta Braves. Rojas was battling for the starting center field job in spring training and has seemingly won it despite a tough showing at the plate in Grapefruit League action. The 23-year-old hit just .176 without a homer and four stolen bases across 56 spring plate appearances. However, he also hit .302 with two homers and 14 stolen bases alongside a .772 OPS in a 59-game debut in the 2023 season while playing excellent defense in center field. The move pushes Brandon Marsh to left field and veteran Whit Merrifield to the bench to begin the season.

Despite not having a good spring, outfielder Johan Rojas remains the favorite to open the year as the Philadelphia Phillies' starting center fielder, according to team sources. There could be an official verdict later this week, according to manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies will continue to monitor Rojas' Grapefruit League at-bats as he continues to make mechanical changes to his swing. He chased some pitches in four hitless at-bats on Tuesday and is hitting .156/.174/.267 this spring. The Phillies know that Rojas will bat ninth and play an elite defense in center field if he's on the big-league roster, but they want him to chase less and refine his swing. If Rojas isn't the everyday center fielder, the Phillies would be committing to regular playing time for Whit Merrifield as their left fielder, with Brandon Marsh in center. Ideally, the Phils want Merrifield to play two or three times a week.

When asked if outfielder Johan Rojas would be a starter in 2024, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said, "Likely, yes. Definitively, no... I think he can do enough offensively... and when you add his speed in there and his defense, he becomes a real plus." Rojas became the team's primary center fielder late last season after slashing an impressive .302/.342/.430 in his first 164 big-league games in 2023. The 23-year-old never spent time at Triple-A in the minors, though, and he struggled in the postseason. Dombrowski said late last year that Rojas would have to earn playing time in center field in 2024. Rojas is more of a contact/speed guy whose high average last year was propped up by a lofty .410 BABIP. Playing time isn't guaranteed, and Rojas' bat isn't all that special.