Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Miguel Rojas has done something no other Dodger has done before.
Rojas was named the winner of the 21st annual Roy Campanella Award, the third year in a row that he’s taken the honor.
No other Dodger has won the award, which the team said is “is given to the Dodger player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher,” three straight years, though Justin Turner did win three awards in 2017, 2019 and 2020.
He’ll be honored before Thursday’s game by Campanella’s daughter, Joni Campanella Roan, and his granddaughter, Akua Campanella.
Why was Miguel Rojas honored with the Campanella award?
Rojas won the award through a vote by uniformed Dodgers personnel, and it makes sense given his “rock solid” performance this season.
Not only is he hitting .271 with four homers and 22 RBIs in 103 games, but he also has started at second base, shortstop and third base, racking up a .995 fielding percentage.
He also, of course, hit the game-tying home run in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, forever stitching his name in Dodgers lore, though his on-field performance is far from all he brings to the team.
“Rojas’ excellent leadership in the clubhouse is by now common knowledge among baseball fans,” the team said in a news release. “The last four years, he’s instituted players-only, series-victory celebratory toasts in the locker room when the Dodgers take a series or record a sweep. Rojas will kick off the toasts with a few words and then throw it over to the ‘player of the game.’ He’s also famous for his mentorship of players both young and old, including Mookie Betts, Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim.”
What’s next for Miguel Rojas?
Rojas is expected to retire after this season, and “next year he is expected to transition into a front office job with a focus on player development,” the team said.
In the meantime, he’s soaking up what’s likely his final few weeks as an MLB player.
“I never take it for granted,” Rojas told Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez. “I feel like every opportunity we have to take this field is really special, especially after what happened the last couple of years, not just to me but to the organization and the city.”
