Reports: Phillies to call up speedy CF prospect Johan Rojas originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia
The Phillies are expected to call up outfield prospect Johan Rojas for the first time, according to The Athletic.
Rojas is a 22-year-old center fielder from the Dominican Republic who has been more of a defensive presence than a bat throughout his minor-league career until this season. Hitting the ball on the ground too frequently had been an issue for the right-handed Rojas in previous years but he has enjoyed a dynamic first half with Double A Reading, hitting .306/.361/.484 with 20 doubles, five triples, nine home runs, 45 RBI and 30 stolen bases in 38 attempts.
Rojas, the Phillies’ No. 6 prospect, per MLB.com, has plus speed and defensive ability and is the sort of player capable of providing a spark. He signed with the Phillies in January 2018 for just $10,000.
The Phils placed Josh Harrison on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a right wrist contusion, but it sounds like another roster move could be coming prior to the resumption of their season. Rojas’ call-up may be tied to a minor Cristian Pache injury, per The Athletic.
The Phillies have Drew Ellis and Jake Cave at Triple A. Like Rojas, they are already on the 40-man roster. Ellis can play the infield, so he’d be a more logical choice to replace Harrison than Cave, who was with the Phillies for all of April and has destroyed Triple A pitching. Cave has hit .355 with a 1.146 OPS, 29 doubles, 16 homers and 48 RBI in 54 games with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Ellis had a two-homer game at Nationals Park in his brief stint with the Phils the first week of June.
The Phillies open a four-game series with the Padres Friday night at Citizens Bank Park that includes a rare scheduled doubleheader Saturday.