The Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t quite get through their last series of the regular season healthy as Miguel Rojas was hit by a pitch in his left hand that forced him to miss the final two games against the San Francisco Giants.
Rojas was diagnosed with a hand contusion upon being removed from the series opener at Oracle Park, and X-rays came back negative. The Dodgers planned to have Rojas undergo a CT scan the following day but he made enough of a recovery that additional testing was bypassed.
“Hopefully it gets back pretty close to 100%, but at the end of the day, a hand is not as important as being out there with the boys,” Rojas said before participating in an intrasquad game during the Dodgers’ second workout ahead of the National League Division Series.
“I’ll try to play as many innings as I can. The only problem will be the hitting part, but defensively I should be 100% good to go.”
Rojas got down a successful safety squeeze bunt in one of his at-bats in Wednesday’s scrimmage and didn’t show any overt signs of being affected by lingering discomfort. Though, he did take a timeout during one at-bat to ask the dugout for a protective pad to put on his left hand.
The Dodgers plan to have another NLDS workout at Dodger Stadium on Thursday that will include an intrasquad game as well.
“I feel like today and tomorrow will be a good test, playing these intrasquad games, seeing some pitches, taking pitches inside or whatever,” Rojas said.
“Trying to get myself comfortable in the box will dictate a lot of what’s going to happen Saturday and these games in the playoffs. I’ll make myself available. I’ll play through whatever I need to play through. Hopefully I get as close to 100% as possible.”
What if Miguel Rojas isn’t healty?
Should Rojas be limited or clearly affected by left hand trouble, the Dodgers would likely turn to Chris Taylor at shortstop.
Taylor was hit by a pitch during the Giants series as well, but said his left knee was not causing any trouble. Taylor played the outfield during the Dodgers’ first intrasquad game.
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