MIGUEL ROJAS WINS 20th ANNUAL ROY CAMPANELLA AWARD
Versatile infielder and clubhouse leader voted “Most Inspirational Dodger” by his teammates and coaches for a second consecutive year
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that infielder Miguel Rojas was named the winner of the 20th annual Roy Campanella Award, which is given to the Dodger player who best exemplifies the spirit and leadership of the late Hall of Fame catcher. The award, which was voted upon by Dodger uniformed personnel, will be presented to Rojas by Campanella’s daughter, Joni Campanella Roan, and his grandson, J.T. Campanella, during pregame ceremonies tomorrow night.
Rojas, 36, becomes the third player to win back-to-back Campanella awards, joining Clayton Kershaw (2013-14) and Justin Turner (2019-20). He’s the fourth player to win multiple times, joining Kershaw, Turner (3x) and Chase Utley (2016, 2018). Rojas is also tied with Jamey Carroll (2010) as the second oldest player to win the honor, after Utley (37, 39).
Rafael Furcal received the inaugural Roy Campanella Award in 2006 and since then the honor has been awarded to Russell Martin (2007), James Loney (2008), Juan Pierre (2009), Carroll (2010), Matt Kemp (2011), A.J. Ellis (2012), Kershaw (2013-14), Zack Greinke (2015), Utley (2016, 2018), Turner (2017, 2019-20), Chris Taylor (2021), Freddie Freeman (2022), Jason Heyward (2023) and Rojas (2024-25).
Rojas returned to the Dodgers in 2023 and signed a two-year deal, coming back to the organization where he made his Major League debut on June 8, 2014 and as the starting third baseman, helped preserve Clayton Kershaw’s no-hitter on June 18, 2014 with a stellar play. After hitting .236 in 2023, Rojas rebounded in a big way last season, hitting .283 in 103 games and playing his usual Gold Glove defense all over the diamond. Rojas also provided invaluable leadership to the club last year as he played on a World Series winner for the first time.
Last year, the Dodgers picked up Rojas’ option and brought the native of Venezuela back for 2025, a decision that has proved pivotal this season as the defensive stalwart has made starts at second base (43), third base (20) and shortstop (10) while posting a .985 fielding percentage and making just four errors on the season.
Rojas has also been a steady performer at the plate in 2025, hitting .355 (11-for-31) in April, .348 (8-for-23) in June and .267 (36-for-135) with a .344 on-base percentage in the second half. Overall, he has hit .294 (35-for-19) vs. left-handed pitchers with five of his six home runs and .284 (38-for-134) in 52 road games.
Off the bench, Rojas has been excellent, batting .429 (6-for-14) with two doubles, a homer and four RBI in a pinch-hitting role.
However, it’s Rojas’ leadership in the clubhouse that sets him apart. The last three years, he’s instituted players-only, series-victory celebratory toasts in the locker room when the Dodgers take a series or record a sweep. Rojas will kick off the toasts with a few words and then throw it over to the “player of the game.” He’s also famous for his mentorship of players young and old, including Mookie Betts, Alex Freeland, Hyeseong Kim and Gavin Lux.
Campanella was a three-time National League Most Valuable Player (1951, 1953 and 1955), eight-time All-Star and a member of the 1955 World Championship team. He played in five World Series and his 142 RBI in 1953 set a franchise record, since surpassed by Tommy Davis (153 in 1962). In 1,215 career games during a 10-year career, all with the Dodgers, he batted .276 with 242 home runs and 856 RBI.
He began his career in the Negro Leagues, establishing himself as one of the top catchers in the league before joining the Dodger organization in 1946. Campanella played for Class B Nashua of the New England League, making that club the first integrated affiliated baseball team in the United States.
On Jan. 29, 1958, just as the Dodgers were making final preparations for their move to Los Angeles, Campanella was involved in a tragic car accident that paralyzed him from the neck down, marking the end of his playing career. On May 7, 1959, a Major League record-setting 93,103 fans filled the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on “Roy Campanella Night” for an exhibition game between the Dodgers and Yankees.
He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969 and was among the first three Dodgers to have their uniform numbers retired alongside Jackie Robinson and Sandy Koufax. Campanella remained active in the Dodgers’ Community Relations Department until his death on June 26, 1993, at the age of 71.
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