Miguel Rojas has built a career on being reliable with the glove. That’s why Monday night stung as much as it did.
The Dodgers infielder made two critical errors in the eighth inning of a 4-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies. Those mistakes turned a potential win into a blown lead and forced Rojas to face the music afterward. He didn’t dodge anything.
“I’m not perfect and I’m gonna make errors. Physical errors are okay, but mental errors are the ones that are disappointing,” Rojas told reporters, per SportsNet LA. “I should have been on third base. I shouldn’t be putting Alex Freeland in that situation of throwing the ball with me on the run there. That’s the one that I kind of kick myself for.”
The play that really got under his skin came after the Rockies had already tied the game on a squeeze. Freeland, the rookie covering first, tried to gun down a runner at third and tossed the ball into the dugout instead. But here’s the thing: Rojas was supposed to be covering third. He wasn’t. By the time he realized his mistake and scrambled over, it was too late. Cole Carrigg scored the go-ahead run, and the Dodgers never recovered.
One hard night in Chavez Ravine
Earlier in that same eighth, Rojas botched a ground ball that could have turned into an inning-ending double play. Instead, the Rockies pulled within a run and kept the pressure on reliever Will Klein. Rojas barely had a second to breathe before the next disaster unfolded at third base.
This is a guy who takes his defense personally. The 37-year-old has played on two World Series-winning teams. He’s known for versatility, for being able to slot in anywhere on the infield and make the routine play look routine. So watching him openly second-guess his own decision-making was a reminder that even the steady ones have off nights.
“I’m not perfect and I’m gonna make errors. Physical errors are ok, but mental errors are the ones that are disappointing.” – Miguel Rojas
— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 8, 2026
Rojas is right to take accountability here. That doesn’t erase the loss, but it does explain why the Dodgers keep him around. He knows what he did wrong, and he’s not blaming Freeland or the bounce of the ball or the lights. He blamed himself.
What comes next for Rojas and the Dodgers
Wednesday’s rubber match gives Rojas a chance to flush this and get back to what he does best. The Dodgers (60-33) still own the best record in baseball. They’ve won four series in a row. The Rockies (38-55) are in last place. On paper, this is a game Los Angeles should win. But Monday proved paper doesn’t mean much once the first pitch is thrown.
Aging players make errors. It happens. But a veteran like Rojas, one who has flashed a steady glove for most of his career, is also the type to learn from a night like this. He’ll be back at shortstop or second base or wherever the lineup card puts him, and he’ll probably make the plays he missed. That’s the bet the Dodgers are making.
For now, Rojas just has to sit with it. And then go out and do better.
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