by Megan Garcia
With each passing season, Miguel Rojas’ confidence in his role grew. He was at peace with the fact that he wouldn’t be an everyday player.
It started when he was a 25-year-old rookie for the Dodgers in 2014. He determined, then, that his efforts would be dedicated to uplifting teammates, rather than strive for career numbers.
He’s been a mentor. He’s been a confidant. He’s been the leader.
Now, Rojas gets to add ‘World Series Game 7 hero’ to his lore.
His ninth-inning home run to tie the score made it so.
Dave Roberts used ‘Dodgers legend’ to describe Rojas in only his second start in the Fall Classic.
A lineup shakeup for Game 6 slotted him in the ninth spot and at second base. The Dodgers were looking for an offensive spark. They saw Rojas as the one to do it.
It happened a day later with the season on the line.
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Although he did make a couple of infield plays that helped force a Game 7, particularly fielding a bouncing throw by Kiké Hernández to complete a game-ending double play.
The Dodgers fought an uphill battle to eventually trail the Blue Jays 4–3 entering the ninth. Rojas was one strike away from being the second out of the ninth inning against All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman.
Then, in the blink of an eye, Rojas swung at a slider down and in. The fly ball landed in the Blue Jay bullpen for a solo home run. It ignited a new hope for the Dodgers.
“All I wanted to do was hit the ball up the middle and get on base for Shohei,” Rojas said. “I think fouling that last fastball off gave me confidence to wait for the ball and he hung me a slider.”
It was his first postseason homer since Oct. 6, 2020, with the Miami Marlins.
“We were going to play 27 outs,” Roberts said. “I (trusted) him to take the at-bat, and he got a pitch that he could handle and hit the biggest hit he’s ever had in his life. Obviously, at that point in time we felt (really) good about it.”
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It tied the game 4–4. The Dodgers won it in the 11th inning with a go-ahead homer by Will Smith. It completed one of the greatest comebacks in postseason history.
It was made possible by Rojas, now known as something else — a two-time World Series champion.
2025 World Series: Miguel Rojas becomes a Fall Classic hero was originally published in Dodger Insider on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.