Jefferson Rojas is a
21-year-old Dominican professional baseball infielder (primarily shortstop and
second baseman; also plays third) who was a top prospect in the Chicago Cubs
organization until a trade to the Mets on August 3, 2026.
Born April 25, 2005, in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
Bats and throws right-handed; listed at about 5'11",
150 lbs.
Signed with the Cubs on January 15, 2022, as a 16-year-old
international free agent (36th-ranked that year) for a reported $1 million bonus.
His father, Ricardo Rojas (a former minor leaguer in the
Cleveland organization), left a conventional job to focus on developing
Jefferson’s talent after noticing his ability as a preteen.
Rojas has been aggressively
promoted and often among the youngest players at each level:
2022 (DSL Cubs): .303/.391/.407 with 1 HR and 15 SB in 45
games.
2023 (primarily Single-A Myrtle Beach): Solid production
with 7 HR and 13 SB.
2024 (High-A South Bend): Adjusted with more modest numbers.
2025: Strong at High-A (.278/.379/.492 with 11 HR and solid
steals in part of the year), then struggled after a midseason promotion to
Double-A Knoxville (.164/.279/.205 in 39 games as one of the youngest players
there).
2026 (Double-A Knoxville Smokies): Career-best
power year. Through roughly 91 games: .270/.339/.461 (about .800 OPS)
with 15 HR, 57 RBI, and 17 SB. He became the first
Cubs minor leaguer that season to reach 15 homers and 15 steals, including a
game-winning extra-innings homer in late July. He ranked as the Cubs’ No. 1 or
No. 2 prospect and around No. 63–80 overall on MLB Pipeline lists at points during
the year.
He has shown a developing hit
tool, growing power (especially in 2026), speed, and defensive versatility
across the infield.
Scouts note maturity beyond his age, though questions remain
about whether he sticks long-term at shortstop (potentially shifting toward
second or third) and consistency against higher-level pitching.
Rojas ranked as the
Cubs’ No. 2 prospect and a Top 100 overall prospect
at the time of the reports.
No need to rush Pena with Voit, Rojas, and Stafura.
ReplyDeleteReimer? Who is he?
As of right now, I like Voit and Rojas more than Stafura, because the first two have a real handle on strikeouts. Stafura? Not yet.
ReplyDeleteRojas was 12th in HRs, 9th in runs, and 8th in RBIs in a high scoring 8 team league. But he may be in a situation very similar to Binghamton. I get a sense that his home park in that league was a pitchers park. Why? His team hit .256 on the road and .229 at Home, so he may be better than his stats indicate. He also hit better on the road then at home.
ReplyDeleteRojas will be a star in this game
ReplyDeleteLindor will take him under his wing
#1 Mets prospect
Easily
The pipeline of middle infielders has been re-filled. I hope that at least one of them becomes as good as projected. That didn't really happen with Jett Williams or LuisAngel Acuna though they were equally hyped in the system.
ReplyDelete