MIAMI -- In an organization building for the future,
On the Marlins’ throwback weekend, when Miami was wearing its retro teal, vest uniforms, Rojas became the first player to deliver consecutive leadoff homers since Hanley Ramirez on July 17-18, 2006. Ramirez won the National League Rookie of the Year Award that season.\n\n“That’s a great way to start the games, not just for me, but for the whole team to have success,” Rojas said. “Finding our power stroke, it’s been really good to watch. All the credit goes to the pitching staff, keeping us in the game. I feel like we’re playing really good baseball lately.”
Miami has won two of the first three in the four-game set, and four of its last six.\n\nThis year, the Marlins are in the process of putting together an organization that is strong from the Minor Leagues on up.\n\nAs a veteran, Rojas’ role in the plan is unclear. The 30-year-old has bought into what the franchise is working toward, and yet, his production and defensive versatility makes him a possible trade piece by Wednesday’s Deadline.
In his second season of arbitration, and eligible for free agency after the 2020 season, Rojas says he wants to be part of Miami’s future.\n\n“I’m all in this project right now, and this organization,” Rojas said. “Whatever they preach, and whatever they’ve brought to the table. I’m all in, and I really wish I can stay here because I found here in Miami a home away from Venezuela. For me to be part of this organization, this franchise from now on, would be great. But that’s not in your hands. It’s something you can’t control. You just have to go with the flow, kind of.”
Rojas went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, and improved his slash line to .290/.343/.375. He now has three homers and 31 RBIs, and is third on the team in runs with 39.\n\n“Miggy has been really good, kind of all year long,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “He’s taken over short, defensively. He had a little stretch where it got off track offensively.”\n\nMattingly said when Rojas hit eighth, he established an approach of simply getting on base, and taking what pitchers gave him, without trying to press to hit for more power.
“In the leadoff spot, he’s stayed the same,” Mattingly said. “Now, all of a sudden, we’ve seen a little more power recently, which he showed last year. Obviously, we don’t want him to force that, but that will happen for him. He just kind of keeps making good contact, and having solid at-bats.”\n\nThe Marlins already have made one trade, [dealing closer Sergio Romo](https://www.mlb.com/marlins/news/marlins-acquire-twins-prospect-lewin-diaz \"undefined\"), along with pitching prospect Chris Vallimont and a player to be named later for left-handed-hitting first baseman Lewin Diaz, who is now the Marlins’ [No. 12 prospect](http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2019?list=mia \"undefined\"), according to MLB Pipeline. He will play at Double-A Jacksonville.\n\nMiami is open to making more moves before Wednesday’s deadline.
Rojas would prefer to stay in Miami, because he sees improvement, especially on the pitching side. He noted that