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Mel Rojas Jr.

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Mel Rojas
Rojas with the Hanshin Tigers
KT Wiz – No. 3
Outfielder
Born: (1990-05-24) May 24, 1990 (age 34)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Professional debut
KBO: June 13, 2017, for the KT Wiz
NPB: May 8, 2021, for the Hanshin Tigers
KBO statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.323
Home runs164
Runs batted in521
NPB statistics
(through 2022 season)
Batting average.220
Home runs17
Runs batted in48
Teams
Career highlights and awards
KBO

Mel Rojas Jr. (born May 24, 1990) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the KT Wiz of the KBO League. He has previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hanshin Tigers.

Early life

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Rojas was born in Indianapolis in 1990 when his father, Mel Rojas, was playing for the Indianapolis Indians.[1] A member of the Alou family,[2] he was raised in the Dominican Republic.[3] As a child, he played both baseball and basketball.[4] He attended high school in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.[3]

College

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Rojas played junior college baseball at Wabash Valley College where, in his only season, he led the nation with 61 stolen base in 64 attempts. He was named the 2010 Great Rivers Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year.[5] He played two summers of collegiate summer baseball with the Amsterdam Mohawks of the New York Collegiate Baseball League.[6]

Career

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Pittsburgh Pirates

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Rojas was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third round of the 2010 Major League Baseball draft out of Wabash Valley College.[7][8] He signed with the Pirates and made his professional debut that season with the State College Spikes.[9]

In 2011, Rojas spent the season with the West Virginia Power. In 2012, Rojas spent the season with Bradenton Marauders. In 2013, Rojas spent the season with the Double-A Altoona Curve.[10][11]

In 2014, Rojas started the season with Altoona and was promoted to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians in July.[12][13][14]

In 2015, the Pirates invited Rojas to spring training.[15] Cut from the team in March,[16] Rojas began the season at the Triple-A level. After a midseason demotion to the Curve, Rojas rejoined the Indians in September.[17][18]

Atlanta Braves

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On May 9, 2016, Rojas was traded to the Atlanta Braves for cash considerations.[19] He was assigned to the Double-A Mississippi Braves, and promoted to the Triple-A Gwinnett Braves seven weeks later.[20] Rojas finished his 2016 season batting .253 with 12 home runs and 46 RBIs.[21]

KT Wiz

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On June 12, 2017, Rojas signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League for $400,000.[22] On November 14, 2017, he re-signed with KT Wiz for $1,000,000.

In 2018 he broke the KT Wiz franchise record for home runs with 43.[23]

In 2020, he also signed a $1.5 million contract, staying at KT Wiz.[24] Rojas nearly won the batting Triple Crown, leading the league in home runs (47) and RBIs (135), but coming in third place for batting average (.349).[25] He was later voted the 2020 KBO League MVP.[26]

Hanshin Tigers

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On December 8, 2020, Rojas signed a two-year deal with the Hanshin Tigers of Nippon Professional Baseball.[27] He played in 60 games for Hanshin in 2021, hitting .217/.282/.381 with 8 home runs and 21 RBI. In 2022, Rojas appeared in 89 contests for the Tigers, slashing .224/.322/.410 with 9 home runs and 27 RBI. He became a free agent following the 2022 season.

Toros de Tijuana

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On March 6, 2023, Rojas signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.[28] In 7 games he hit .276/.344/.448 with 1 home run and 2 RBIs. He was released on May 5, 2023.

Acereros de Monclova

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On May 10, 2023, Rojas signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League.[29] In 36 games, he batted .241/.440/.397 with 5 home runs and 20 RBI. Rojas was waived on July 4.[30]

Guerreros de Oaxaca

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On July 11, 2023, Rojas signed with the Guerreros de Oaxaca of the Mexican League.[31] In 23 games for Oaxaca, Rojas hit .326/.419/.607 with 5 home runs and 25 RBI.

KT Wiz (second stint)

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On December 7, 2023, Rojas signed with the KT Wiz of the KBO League.[32]

Personal life

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Rojas is the son of former Major League Baseball player, Mel Rojas.[33][34]

References

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  1. ^ "Mel Rojas Jr. leads Tribe to victory with 5 RBIs". The Indianapolis Star. July 3, 2014. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Mel Rojas Jr. Named 2020 KBO MVP". MLB.com.
  3. ^ a b Sears, Ethan (May 31, 2020). "How ex-Indianapolis Indians player is experiencing baseball in South Korea". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  4. ^ Friedlander, David (July 28, 2016). "Getting to Know Mel Rojas Jr". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  5. ^ Lane, Jim (May 28, 2013). "Rojas Jr. Rolls on in Double-A". MiLB.com. Minor League Baseball. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  6. ^ Singelais, Mark (25 June 2010). "Rojas tries to keep the tradition alive". Times Union. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  7. ^ Dunning, Derek (July 14, 2010). "Rojas Jr. signs contract with Pirates". The Leader Herald. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  8. ^ "Pirates sign third round selection Mel Rojas Jr". MLB.com. July 15, 2010. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  9. ^ Kaplan, Jake (July 22, 2010). "Rojas starts career in State College". The Daily Collegian. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  10. ^ "Fresh Faces: Initial Roster Announced". MILB.com. April 4, 2011. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  11. ^ Passanisi, Mike (March 29, 2013). "Taillon, Dickerson Headline 2013 Curve Roster". Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  12. ^ Passanisi, Mike (March 29, 2014). "Hanson, Kingham Land on Curve Opening Day Roster". MILB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  13. ^ Giger, Cory (March 29, 2014). "Prospects highlight of roster". Altoona Mirror. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  14. ^ Seiner, Jake (July 4, 2014). "Rojas plates five off bench in Indy's win". MILB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  15. ^ Brink, Bill (January 8, 2015). "Pirates invite eight to spring training in Bradenton, Fla". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  16. ^ "Tillman strong in Orioles' 6–4 win over Pirates". San Diego Union-Tribune. Associated Press. March 19, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  17. ^ Passanisi, Mike (June 17, 2015). "Extra Innings Continue to Plague Curve on Tuesday". MILB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  18. ^ Brink, Bill (September 3, 2015). "Pirates notebook: Rescinded waiver claim of one player leads to September promotion of another". Pittsburgh Posr-Gazette. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  19. ^ Eddy, Matt (May 16, 2016). "Minor League Transactions: May 6–11". Baseball America. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  20. ^ Lezotte, Dave (June 21, 2016). "Rojas Jr.'s Triple Beats Indians in 12th". MILB.com. Retrieved August 11, 2016.
  21. ^ "Mel Rojas Jr. Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  22. ^ "KT's New Foreign Hitter – Mel Rojas Jr. $400,000". 9 June 2017. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  23. ^ "Last Minute Spurt – Rojas and Kang Baek Ho". 28 September 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  24. ^ "로하스, 4년 연속 kt와 함께…총액 150만달러에 재계약". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2020-06-15.
  25. ^ "From MVP-worthy slugger to bearded aces, foreign players dominate KBO statistical leaderboards". Yonhap News Agency. October 30, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  26. ^ "KT Wiz slugger Mel Rojas Jr. voted KBO's MVP". English.yonhapnews.co.kr. November 30, 2020. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  27. ^ "Mel Rojas Jr. Signs with Hanshin Tigers". mlbtraderumors.com. December 14, 2020.
  28. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva – 6 de marzo de 2023".
  29. ^ @AcererosOficial (10 May 2023). "¡ATENCIÓN, FURIA! 🔊🔊🔊 Vamos a salir juntos adelante, tenemos nuevo refuerzo: 👀 ¡MEL ROJAS JR. SE INTEGRA A NUESTRO EQUIPO! 🤩 Te traemos los detalles. #AceroPuroPoder. 💙💪🏼🔥" (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 May 2023 – via Twitter.
  30. ^ "LMB: Movimientos en listas de reserva – 4 de julio de 2023". MiLB.com (in Spanish). July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  31. ^ "Llega Mel Rojas a reforzar a Guerreros". imparcialoaxaca.mx. 13 July 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  32. ^ "KT Wiz reunite with ex-KBO MVP Rojas, re-sign ace Cuevas". m-en.yna.co.kr. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  33. ^ Valdez, Rachella (March 4, 2014). "Rojas Jr. hopes to follow father's footsteps". The Toronto Observer. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
  34. ^ Singelais, Mark (June 25, 2010). "Rojas tries to keep the tradition alive". Times Union. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
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