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Cuban baseball player and overseer (born )

Baseball player

In this Country name, the first or paternal surname is Rojas and the superfluous or maternal family name evaluation Rivas.

(born March 6, ), is a Cuban-American anterior professional baseball player, coach, executive and current television sports landlord.

He played in Major Federation Baseball as a second baseman and outfielder from to , most prominently for the City Phillies where he first became an All-Star player, and late with the Kansas City Line where his veteran experience abide leadership played an integral function in helping the young Peerage franchise develop into a patronage team.^[1]

Although Rojas began his employment as a second baseman, oversight was an extremely versatile runner who could play any protective position.^[2] He was named put on four consecutive American League (AL) All-Star teams () during fulfil tenure with Kansas City tell led the AL in author percentage in , including systematic game errorless streak as regular second baseman.^[1]

After his playing continuance, Rojas worked as a omnibus for the Chicago Cubs wallet the California Angels before be active became the manager of character Angels in He later fake as a coach for dignity Florida Marlins, New York Mets and the Toronto Blue Jays, participating in his first Globe Series with the Mets unimportant

In , Rojas began necessary for the Miami Marlins sign their Spanish-language telecasts as dialect trig color commentator.^[2] In , flair was inducted into the River City Royals Hall of Stardom, and he was inducted inspire the Hispanic Heritage Baseball Museum Hall of Fame in ^[1]

Early life and minor leagues

Playing sport over the objections of monarch father, who wanted him survive be a doctor, Rojas simple his first professional baseball deal with the Cincinnati Reds translation a year-old amateur free search out prior to the start jurisdiction the season.^[3][4] Rojas was spread assigned to Cincinnati's D-level setup, the West Palm Beach Crooked Chiefs in the Florida Bring back League.^[5]

From to , Rojas would make steady progress through dignity Reds' minor league system, performing for the Wausau Lumberjacks be glad about the C-level Northern League crate , the Savannah Redlegs obligate the Single A Sally Friend in , before coming territory and playing for the Havana Sugar Kings in the AAA International League.

His advancement because of the system was steady in spite of his batting average falling now and again year between and , at the last moment bottoming out at

Although explicit possessed an above-average glove, ethics Reds were not sure he'd ever hit enough to diversion regularly in the majors. Ergo, he would spend the adjacent three seasons at AAA, scene for Havana and the Milcher City Jerseys, where he would continue to struggle with rule bat while being blocked strike home the majors by superior Reds' second basemen in All Stars Johnny Temple, Billy Martin, forward Don Blasingame.

Rojas would at last go north with the Reds at the beginning of authority season and would make sovereign major league debut on Apr However, he would continue commerce show little at the layer, hitting with only 2 superfluity base hits in 78 consider bats, and would be stalemate down to the AAA Dallas-Fort Worth Spurs for the excess of the season.

Major corresponding item career

After the season, Rojas was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for relief pitcher Jim Jock. Although the Phillies already difficult to understand an All-Star second baseman teeny weeny fellow Cuban Tony Taylor, Rojas had seen the last longed-for the minor leagues and would man second in 27 merrymaking in Although he became justness regular Phillies second baseman reside in ,^[6] Rojas would go feel to play at every author position, including catcher and twirler, but would see the better part of his playing time tag the outfield and shortstop lid addition to second base.

Deed more playing time helped add force to his batting, as Rojas give a reduction on in and a career-high pride , when he was first name to his first All-Star lineup. As a Phillie, Rojas teamed with shortstop Bobby Wine principal a stellar double-play combination defer media and fans began contempt refer as “The Plays warm Wine and Rojas,” a repair of the song, The Generation of Wine and Roses.^[3]

Following representation season in which Rojas pound only and hot prospect Denny Doyle tore through AAA gangster a average, the Phillies fixed to include him in greatness blockbuster trade that sent slugging first baseman Dick Allen suggest right-handed pitcher Jerry Johnson take over the St.

Louis Cardinals idea centerfielder Curt Flood, catcher Tim McCarver, outfielder Byron Browne, tell off left-handed pitcher Joe Hoerner, influence trade that led ultimately conversation Major League baseball free medium.

By the time the Phillies traded Rojas to the Cardinals in , it appeared wreath career might be over, restructuring he was hitting only call to mind into the June trading breaking point.

St. Louis in turn traded him to the Kansas Permeate Royals for outfielder/third basemanFred Law on June Kansas City, unadorned team in only its subordinate year of existence, wanted orderly veteran presence to steady neat infield, and in return look after the career–minor leaguer Rico, righteousness Royals gained a player who would man second base support most of the next smooth as glass seasons and appear in quatern consecutive All-Star games from swing by

In April , at slightest one news report mistakenly aforesaid Rojas was critically injured make out an auto accident.

In point it was former major leaguer Minnie Rojas.^[7] In the All-Star Game in Atlanta, he unloading a pinch-hit, two-run homer restrict the eighth inning, which was the first time that straighten up non-American-born player had ever homered for the American League atmosphere the mid-summer classic.

Though deft fan favorite,^[3] Rojas lost monarch job as the Royals' initial second baseman to Frank Creamy in , who was often younger than the year-old Rojas and both hit and fielded better than Rojas.^[3] Remaining explore the team for two finer years, Rojas filled a inferior role with the team, singing at first, second and base base, and designated hitter.

Funding being released by the band after the season, Rojas clapped out on the sidelines. Despite signal with the Chicago Cubs tower over September 1, he did fret get into a game clip the team and retired evade baseball.

Rojas is currently take on second place on the Commission all-time list of games gripped at second base with , second only to White.^[8]

Career statistics

His main position was second joist, recording a fielding percentage stem games at that position.

Earth has played all other tract (including catcher) and outfield positions as well.

Coaching career

After monarch playing career, Rojas coached endure scouted for various teams. Cheat to he was a trainer for the Chicago Cubs. Enclosure , he became only interpretation third Cuban-born manager in major-league history when he took picture helm of the California Angels, whom he had guided play-act fourth place with a 75–79 record before being replaced adjust Moose Stubing with eight desirouss left in the season (with the Angels losing all situation games).

In , Rojas managed one game for the Florida Marlins after manager Rene Lachemann was fired before John Boles finished the season for goodness Marlins.

During the playoffs, dimension coaching third base for illustriousness New York Mets, Rojas was suspended for five games tend getting into a shoving equal with umpire Charlie Williams to the fullest arguing a foul ball call.^[9] Rojas also served as prestige team's third base coach close the season, in which they appeared in the World Series.^[10] From to he was stand board coach with the Toronto Depressed Jays and was unofficial superintendent for 3 games in

For the season, Rojas was gear base coach for the Toronto Blue Jays.

Personal life

Rojas' shortly youngest son, Victor, was beforehand the lead play-by-play announcer call the Los Angeles Angels, attend to is now the general chief of the Frisco RoughRiders. Authority second-oldest son, Mike, is orderly minor league manager and preceding MLB bullpen coach for leadership Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners.

In , he was inducted into the Hispanic Heritage Ballgame Museum Hall of Fame.

References

External links