SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The return of Cactus League games provides Chicago White Sox infielder Josh Rojas with some good feedback.
“(You) get in a game and start moving at full speed and (have a chance at) handling the adrenaline you get stepping up to the plate in big league games for the first time in a while,” Rojas told the Tribune on Monday at Camelback Ranch. “I’ve got some adjustments I need to make and we’ll go from there.”
Rojas had one hit — a double — in two at-bats during his first game of the spring Sunday against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium. He went 0-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday’s 14-3 loss against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields.
“For me, the biggest focus has always been — one, I’m moving correctly and I can get to the pitches I want to get to,” Rojas said. “I felt good doing that (Sunday). Felt I got to the pitches I wanted to get to. And the second thing I try to do is make sure I’m hitting the balls in the right direction, which is one thing I didn’t do well (Sunday). I didn’t like that. I got a slider over the plate that I popped up to left. And I would like to hit that lower launch angle on those offspeed pitches.
“And most importantly, I’m being aggressive but I’m swinging at strikes. I don’t want to chase. Especially now when you’re going to be late. It’s early (in spring training), so you’re trying to get timing. But you don’t want to feel like you’re being too aggressive to where you’re chasing. I took some good pitches (Sunday), took pitches out of the zone, I swung at strikes. Now it’s just a matter of focusing on my direction and my launch angle.”
Those tweaks between at-bats are coming while Rojas adjusts to playing for a new team. He finalized a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Sox in January.
Rojas, 30, joined the Sox after slashing .225/.304/.336 with 19 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, 31 RBIs, 48 runs and 10 stolen bases in 142 games with the Seattle Mariners in 2024.
The left-handed hitter has a .247/.323/.362 career slash line with 100 doubles, six triples, 34 home runs, 189 RBIs, 256 runs and 59 steals in 569 games during parts of six major-league seasons with his hometown team, the Arizona Diamondbacks (2019-23), and the Mariners (2023-24).
His defense stood out on Tuesday. Rojas showed good range at third base, moving to his left to field a Kris Bryant grounder and firing to first base for the final out of the first inning.
Rojas played mostly at third base last season for the Mariners. But he has experience all over the field. He has started at second and third in his two spring games for the Sox.
“I was getting my reps in at third and short (before camp started) — focusing on the left side of the infield because it’s a longer throw, requires a little bit more footwork and being a little more precise,” Rojas said. “But as camp started, I’ve done more of my reps at second base. Just because there’s a couple of areas I didn’t feel 100% comfortable — which was groundballs to my left, which I felt like I was sitting back a little too much where sometimes I should be coming to get them a little bit.”
Rojas is accustomed to juggling the different roles.
“I came up doing it, I kind of know how to go about it when I need work at a certain position,” Rojas said. “And the coaching staff has given me kind of free rein on where I need to work every day. When it’s game day and I’m playing a certain position, I’ll get my reps in at that (spot).”
Manager Will Venable has already noticed Rojas’ impact from a leadership standpoint, regardless of where he’s situated on the field.
“Josh has been amazing,” Venable said before Tuesday’s game. “His presence has been great. When we have drills, he’s vocal out there. Wants to be challenged when we meet in between drills and get the team together, he’s the one on the infield that’s talking and leading the charge with some of our goals out there.
“He’s been great, it’s been really special to watch him do his thing.”
Davis Martin has a sharp spring outing
Davis Martin struck out two and allowed one hit in two scoreless innings during his first start of the spring on Tuesday.
The right-hander threw 18 pitches, 13 of which were strikes.
“Just being aggressive in the zone,” Martin said. “We talked about setups with the catcher being more centrally located in the plate, especially early in counts to make sure that we’re attacking early, attacking through the heart of the plate and then expanding off late. (Catcher Matt) Thaiss had a great setup back there and everything was working really well today.”
The game got away from the Sox (0-4) late, as the Rockies scored eight runs in the eighth inning. The Sox have been outscored 25-6 in the last two Cactus League games.
