Chicago Cubs Prospect Profile: Jefferson Rojas |
For all of the top talent the Cubs' high-level prospects get, and rightfully so, it's time to start looking at their lower-level Minor Leagues as well. Granted, the overall wins and loss record may not be the best in the lower-level minor leagues, but the insane amount of talent that they have down there can't be ignored and is going to play a massive role in this team's future.
Look no further than the No. 8 prospect in the organization, SS Jefferson Rojas. Listed as a top-100 prospect in the 97 to 98 range, Rojas is not only one of the fastest-moving prospects in the Cubs system but in all of baseball. Like most of the Cubs' young shortstop prospects, Rojas was an International Free Agent pick-up, as the Cubs inked him a one-million-dollar deal ahead of the 2022 season. Needless to say, that was a steal for the Cubs, and the now 19-year-old has rewarded them in a massive way thus far. Before we get into his stats and what makes him tick, the Cubs were in on Rojas long before he was posted and have gone on record saying they felt he was the most talented overall hitter in his class. While that remains to be seen from a long-term outlook, you have to love the thought process, and based on what he has shown so far, the Cubs may have been right with that assessment. From the moment Rojas arrived in the Cubs organization, the right-handed hitter put on a show, hitting .303 during his rookie season, which covered 45 games for the DSL Cubs. It's not just the average that stood out, but all the parts of his game, as he walked nearly as many times as he struck out while adding 15 stolen bases. Rojas only had one homer that season, but at 150 pounds when he was drafted, that was to be expected. Following his strong DSL showing, Rojas was sent to the States in 2023 and began the season with the ACL Cubs before getting the bump to Myrtle Beach. He played in 71 games that season, and although his average dipped to .265, it was still impressive. He connected for seven homers and 31 RBIs. One year later, Rojas continued climbing through the Minor League ranks, where he found himself with the South Bend Cubs in 2024. As is the case from one year to the next, the Cubs expected his workload to increase dramatically, and with a career-high 96 games under his belt, he gave them the increased workload they expected. From an average side of things, Rojas continued to plummet, hitting just .245 this past season. That is to be expected when you are facing better pitching, but Rojas did more than hold his own at times. Although the decrease in average may turn off the more casual fan, his production continued to be as consistent as you can have. He connected for six homers but did drive in a career-high 47. He also swiped 21 bases for a new career high, as he is letting his speed do more of the work for him. Unlike many young kids in today's game, Rojas has a very controlled swing that he keeps within himself and does a great job with pitch recognition. That alone is something you can't teach to a young kid, so for him to have that advanced eye, this young is telling you something. Despite his overall lack of size and strength at this point in his career, Rojas has strong hands and some of the best bat speed in the system, which does help him get to his pull-side power more consistently. That power should continue to increase as he matures at the plate, and once that happens, you could be looking at an exceptional talent. Not known for his speed on the bases, Rojas is still an average to above-average baserunner, but his instincts make him an elite baserunner. He has also displayed a cannon for an arm, which is great to have at the shortstop position, but there is some worry that any more loss in quickness could result in a move to either second or third. Should that happen, it could be a win-win for both the Cubs and Rojas. A position change could make him more valuable to the Cubs or any team and could also be his way to reach Wrigley the quickest. Given the ongoing trade talks surrounding the Cubs, Rojas is one of those guys who could be moving up the Cubs list sooner rather than later.
