How Miguel Rojas embraced a reality check to return to Dodgers for final season

ST. LOUIS — Miguel Rojas recalls it as the darkest point of his career.“I was in such a bad place mentally,” he said during a recent conversation with The Athletic. “Especially because I knew I was on the back end of my career, and I didn’t know how much longer I could play for.”It was the end of May last season, and the Los Angeles Dodgers were well above .500, but difficult decisions were being made. An organization lauded for its loyalty had cut ties with two long-time clubhouse staples to make way for newer players. Austin Barnes, who had spent his 11 big-league seasons with the Dodgers, was designated for assignment when the club elected to call up top prospect Dalton Rushing. A few days later, Chris Taylor, who had been with the team since 2016, was DFA’d when it came time to activate Tommy Edman off the injured list.Rojas, underperforming and relegated to a 26-man role, figured he was next.Advertisement