Jose Rojas' journey with the New York Mets during spring training was a tough ride, marked by a mere 2 hits in 29 at-bats, alongside 4 walks and 9 strikeouts. His debut at first base also included an error, which didn’t help his case for climbing the depth chart.
Despite a stellar performance in Triple-A last year, where he hit .287/.379/.599 with 32 home runs and 105 RBIs for the Yankees, his major league stats tell a different story. With a .584 OPS in the majors compared to .898 in nearly 500 Triple-A games, it seems Rojas is more suited to shine in Syracuse than in New York.
On Opening Day for the Syracuse Mets, Rojas showed his Triple-A prowess with a crucial 2-run homer in the fourth inning, leading to a 3-1 victory. This blast brought home Ronny Mauricio, another player eager to return to the majors. At 33, Rojas is vying for a spot similar to Jared Young’s on the Mets' roster, but he faces stiff competition.
During his stints in the majors in 2021 and 2022, Rojas struggled with a .188/.245/.339 line. While he offers versatility in the field, his spring training performance showed those skills aren't quite up to par. Essentially, he mirrors Young, but from the right side of the plate.
The minor league season often brings clarity for many players. Jonah Tong impressed on the mound, while Rojas' home run was a highlight. Meanwhile, Cristian Pache, who was a force in spring training, struck out in all four of his at-bats, and Jackson Cluff added three more strikeouts to his tally, underscoring the challenge of making a major league roster.
Triple-A teams like Syracuse blend promising prospects with seasoned players aiming for a comeback. The Mets have several intriguing talents who could see major league action in 2026, but Rojas will need more standout performances to earn a call-up. Despite his impressive Triple-A numbers, the Yankees didn’t promote him last year, and the Mets will need convincing evidence to do so this season.