The Hanshin Tigers announced on the 25th that they had reached an agreement with outfielder Mel Rojas Jr (30) for the 2021 season. The contract is reportedly worth $5-million over two seasons. He will wear #24 and could potentially bat third in the lineup, ahead of Yusuke Ohyama and Jerry Sands. (Local media has already started talking about Hanshin possibly having a trio of batters combine for 100 homers for the first time since 1985, and that the 2021 pennant is well within reach. We’ll spare you that hype. Oops!)
Rojas was drafted in the 3rd round of the 2010 MLB Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, though he never got called up to the big leagues. In June 2017, he joined the KT Wiz of KBO (Korea) and really left his mark on the league. In 511 career games there, he hit 132 home runs, hitting over .300 in four straight seasons. This past year, he hit 47 home runs and knocked in 135 runs, winning both of those titles. He was also chosen as league MVP. His play in Korea garnered attention from the majors as well as from the Giants and other teams in Japan.
However, it was the Tigers that Rojas shook on a deal with. Through a team spokesperson, he said, “I am really excited to sign on with the Hanshin Tigers and play as a member of the team next season. Not only am I excited about the team, but being able to play at Koshien Stadium, which has such a great history and place in Japan’s baseball culture. The thing I’m most looking forward to, though, is meeting the fans. I am proud to be part of this team and am thankful for the excellent playing and living environment that they have established.”
Manager Akihiro Yano has been looking for the right player to bat third in the lineup for a while now. Back in September last year, as the team was mired in a mini-slump, he lamented that he was having problems finding someone to step up in that slot. He tried several options (Itoi, Yohkawa, Nakatani, Itohara) but none were effective. “I see him (Rojas) hitting third. He can drive guys in, open up chances for bigger innings, and seems to make adjustments well. I imagine he will be able to figure out other teams’ ace pitchers, too.”
The team now has eight foreigners signed on for 2021, but with import limitations set at five for the top squad, there will be competition for playing time. With the roster more-or-less completely set in place, we now wait out the next month or so before Rojas and the rest of the imports make their way to Japan for spring training at the start of February.