Mike Rojas
Encyclopedia
Miguel Angel Rojas is an American
professional baseball
coach
and player development official. A member of the Detroit Tigers
' organization since , Rojas was named bullpen
coach of the Tigers on July 3, 2011, when his predecessor, Jeff Jones, was promoted to Detroit's pitching coach position. Rojas is the son of former MLB second baseman
, coach, manager
and scout Cookie Rojas
, still in baseball as a television analyst on the Florida Marlins
' Spanish network.
Previously, Mike Rojas had served the Tigers as director of player development, field coordinator of instruction, roving minor league catching
instructor and minor league
manager at the Short Season-A, Class A and Triple-A levels. He has also managed in the Cincinnati Reds
, Houston Astros
and Chicago White Sox
organizations. From 1987–1991, he coached in the college
ranks as an assistant with St. Thomas University (Florida)
.
Rojas is a former catcher who played in the Oakland Athletics
and Toronto Blue Jays
farm systems during the 1980s. His Baseball-Reference page lists him as playing only in 1983–1984, but his mlb.com biography credits him with four years of minor league service, through 1986. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) as an active player.
is the TV play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. His father Cookie Rojas
was an MLB player for 15 seasons and a coach for two, is the Spanish TV color commentator for the Florida Marlins
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
and player development official. A member of the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
' organization since , Rojas was named bullpen
Bullpen
In baseball, the bullpen is the area where relief pitchers warm-up before entering a game. Depending on the ballpark, it may be situated in foul territory along the baselines or just beyond the outfield fence. Also, a team's roster of relief pitchers is metonymically referred to as "the bullpen"...
coach of the Tigers on July 3, 2011, when his predecessor, Jeff Jones, was promoted to Detroit's pitching coach position. Rojas is the son of former MLB second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
, coach, manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
and scout Cookie Rojas
Cookie Rojas
Octavio Victor Rojas Rivas , better known as Cookie Rojas, is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals. After retiring as a player he went on to both coach and manage in the...
, still in baseball as a television analyst on the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
' Spanish network.
Previously, Mike Rojas had served the Tigers as director of player development, field coordinator of instruction, roving minor league catching
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
instructor and minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
manager at the Short Season-A, Class A and Triple-A levels. He has also managed in the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
, Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
and Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
organizations. From 1987–1991, he coached in the college
College baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. Compared to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a less significant contribution to cultivating professional players, as the minor leagues primarily...
ranks as an assistant with St. Thomas University (Florida)
St. Thomas University (Florida)
St. Thomas University is a private Roman Catholic university in the Miami, Florida, United States suburb of Miami Gardens.-History:The University traces its roots to the Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva, founded in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, named after Saint Thomas of Villanova, by...
.
Rojas is a former catcher who played in the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
farm systems during the 1980s. His Baseball-Reference page lists him as playing only in 1983–1984, but his mlb.com biography credits him with four years of minor league service, through 1986. He threw and batted right-handed, stood 6 in 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighed 185 pounds (83.9 kg) as an active player.
Personal
Rojas' brother Victor RojasVictor Rojas
Victor Rojas is an American baseball broadcaster, currently the TV voice of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. -Playing career:Rojas is the son of former major-league player and manager Cookie Rojas...
is the TV play-by-play announcer for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. His father Cookie Rojas
Cookie Rojas
Octavio Victor Rojas Rivas , better known as Cookie Rojas, is a former Major League Baseball second baseman and outfielder who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals, and Kansas City Royals. After retiring as a player he went on to both coach and manage in the...
was an MLB player for 15 seasons and a coach for two, is the Spanish TV color commentator for the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
.