Why Rojas was sent down and what the Phillies need to see from him originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
There were multiple layers to the Phillies’ decision Monday afternoon with Johan Rojas being optioned to Triple A to make room on the active roster for a returning Trea Turner.
Some of it was a roster crunch. Rojas still had minor league options, while Cristian Pache and David Dahl did not. If the Phillies had tried to send Pache or Dahl to the minor leagues, they would have had to pass them through waivers first and chances are both players would have been claimed.
The other part is Rojas’ attacking approach and output. The Phillies want him to shorten his swing, use more of the field and improve his flagging. They’ve been looking for that development in him since spring training, but it hasn’t happened.
“Those are the things we need because I think if he does what he can do on offense, which is just be a table setter, have good at-bats, can move the ball, move runners, while he plays center field , this is probably the best version of our club,” said manager Rob Thomson.
“He handled it very well, very professionally. I think he will go there and work on it. This is a good opportunity for Ro to develop a bit. Just get a reset, be able to relax and do things.” the things we ask him to do.”
Thomson reiterated that he believes the best version of the Phillies’ lineup has Rojas in center field, where he showed the impact he can make defensively last summer. He hasn’t been nearly as valuable in the field or on the basepaths as he was last summer, when he was probably playing over his head. He was shut out three times this season and made more physical and mental mistakes in center than in the 59 Major League games he played in 2023.
“Focus on reading pitchers, studying pitchers, pitchers’ tendencies, their times at the plate, good secondary leads,” Thomson said. “But most of it is probably on the offensive side.”
Without Rojas, the Phillies will optimize for more offense in the outfield. Brandon Marsh will platoon in center field with Pache and Whit Merrifield will share left field with Dahl.
“I still want to get Marsh at-bats against left-handed pitchers, we’ll try to pick and choose,” Thomson said. “But for the most part, I think we’ll do it in a platoon.”
Edmundo Sosa also started working in left field on Monday before the start of the Phillies series against the Padres. If Sosa takes the position — his hands, defensive ability and instincts indicate he will — he could become another option alongside Merrifield against left-handed pitching.
