Josh Rojas has turned himself into a plus defender. My colleague Ben Clemens chronicled that advancement last month, citing the Mariners infielder’s improved ability to go to his left as a primary reason for his markedly-better metrics.
Exactly what type of adjustments have allowed the 30-year-old third baseman to turn the proverbial corner with his glove? I happened to be in Cleveland when Seattle began a road series against the Guardians on the day Ben’s article ran, so was able to get the answer right from the horse’s mouth.
“It was a matter of adjusting what works best for me reacting to balls left and right,” Rojas told me. “It has to do with my preset. Not getting down too early, not getting down too late. Picking up contact points. Another thing that helps is knowing how the ball usually comes off guys’ bats when certain pitchers are throwing. There is constant communication between me, the pitching coaches, and Bone [infield coach Perry Hill] on what the plan is for the series.”
The preset is what I was most interested in, so I asked the erstwhile Arizona Diamondback — Rojas became a Mariner at last July’s trade deadline — if he could elaborate.
“It’s the same as base-running, or any other way you’re trying to be explosive,” explained Rojas, whom Seattle acquired along with Ryan Bliss and Dominic Canzone in exchange for Paul Sewald. “It’s finding a good place to start that allows you to move quickly. Last year, I played with a setup that I thought worked for me, and as you can tell from the numbers it was only efficient going one way, which was to my backhand side.
“I was more walking into it,” Rojas added. “I would kind of go left-right-hop, and try to time it up from there. It felt good, but it was a little late for going left. This year, I’m just starting at a standstill, trying to get my feet as close as I can to where I want them to end. Then it’s just a simple hop and timing up the pitch.”
The degree to which Perry Hill deserves credit for Rojas’s improvement isn’t totally clear. The player explained that while he had conversations with the highly-regarded infield instructor during spring training, no specific preset was pushed upon him. As for Hill’s explanation, let’s just say that getting him to take credit is like pulling teeth.
Asked how much of a role he played, the 72-year-old “Bone” would only say that it is all about the player, and that Rojas worked hard. He did touch on some of the adjustments that were made.
“In the past, when I saw him in Arizona, he played too shallow,” said Hill. “He’s playing deeper now, which allows him to get better angles. You field and throw with your feet, so you have to get the angles, get to balls in a position where you’re ready to throw. He’s worked really hard on that. He’s also picked up an area at home plate to look at, especially to right-handed hitters, which helps him get a better first-step jump. That down-and-in pitch is usually going to be what gets hit hard in his direction.”
In Rojas’s opinion, the emphasis on contact points has played an even bigger role than his setup.
“One thing Bone did suggest was focusing on that,” said Rojas. “That way, when the ball is inside of that contact point, I know that it is going to end up to my right, and if it’s outside of that contact point it’s probably going to end up right at me, or to my left. I think that was the biggest thing he suggested that has worked for me really well this year.”
And if you’re wondering, yes, Rojas read Ben’s article. As a matter of fact, he’d done so by the time I approached him in Cleveland’s visiting clubhouse. I learned as much when I asked if it’s nice to look at his defensive metrics and see just how good he’s been.
“I haven’t actually looked at them yet, but Bone has told me that they’re better this year,” said Rojas. “I also read the article that came out today and saw that some of the numbers are better. But I try not to get too caught up in that. I just try to prepare, and make all the plays I can for our pitching staff.”
RANDOM HITTER-PITCHER MATCHUPS
Ossee Schrecongost went 3 for 3 against Harry Kane.
Ollie Brown went 7 for 10 against Joe Decker.
George Watkins went 10 for 14 against Mace Brown.
Skip Schumaker went 2 for 4 against Taylor Jordan.
David Bell went 2 for 5 against Kevin Pickford.
Rob Refsnyder was first quoted here at Sunday Notes on July 12, 2015, one day after he’d made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees at Fenway Park. The veteran outfielder now plays for the Red Sox, so I ventured into Boston’s home clubhouse to ask him about the nine-years-ago experience — not so much his 0-for-3 first game, but rather his next-day 2-for-4 at the same venue.
“It was an exciting time,” Refsnyder told me on the anniversary of that two-hit effort. “Being able to get the first hit, and first home run, on my second day was pretty cool. Then there was the All-Star break. I spent a couple of days in New York, played in two games against Seattle, then got sent down [to Triple-A} for Brendan Ryan. It was a whirlwind weeklong period.”
In some respects, nine years is a short period of time. In other respects — this is especially true in baseball — it qualifies as a long time. Refsnyder appreciates that he’s still wearing a big-league uniform at the no-longer-young age of 33, and the arc of his journey is one of the reasons why.
As he pointed out in our recent conversation, he’s been designated for assignment five times. Of course, his days of worrying about job security are mostly a thing of the past. Since signing with Boston prior to the 2022 season, Refsnyder has a 123 wRC+ while filling a valuable platoon role. On the eve of this year’s All-Star break, he is slashing .304/.399/.466 with a 141 wRC+.
Also notable in the former fifth-round pick’s journey is that he is the only player drafted and signed by the Yankees in 2012 who remains on a big-league roster. Moreover, the only other players from that draft to debut in pinstripes were Nick Goody, James Pazos, and Brady Lail.
New York’s scouting department has hit some home runs — they brought Aaron Judge into the fold the following year — but their 2012 yield serves as ample proof that crystal balls are in short supply throughout draft rooms.
Refsnyder hasn’t paid much attention to the amateur draft since entering pro ball, but he did offer a few thoughts when the subject was broached.
“I think it’s cool how fast guys are coming up now,” said Refsnyder. “It’s a testament to how much better the development is at the college level. The technology, the information, better coaching. I think the [scouting] departments know what they’re looking for information-wise, and what they’re targeting. It’s a lot more efficient than when I was drafted. I think they’re better able to quantify what’s going to work.”
A quiz: Which player has the most hits in modern era (since 1901) Chicago Cubs franchise history?
The answer can be found below.
NEWS NOTES
Iowa Cubs broadcaster Alex Cohen will make his MLB regular-season debut today, filling in for Jon Sciambi on Marquee Sports Network when the Chicago Cubs play the St. Louis Cardinals. Cohen, who was honored as Baseball Digest’s 2023 Broadcaster of the Year, was a guest on FanGraphs Audio in June 2021.
A reminder that this year’s national SABR convention will be held in downtown Minneapolis from August 7-11. The list of featured speakers, which includes several Minnesota Twins luminaries, can be found here.
