Atlanta Braves Add AA Outfielder

Atlanta Braves Add AA Outfielder Mel Rojas Jr..

The Mississippi Braves Twitter account announced tonight that the Braves acquired a new outfielder from the Pirates for cash considerations.

OF Mel Rojas, Jr., has been acquired by the Braves from the Pittsburgh Pirates for cash considerations and assigned to Double-A #MBraves
— Mississippi Braves (@mbraves) May 9, 2016

Mel Rojas Jr. is a 6’3 200 pound switch hitting outfielder and the son of former big league closer Mel Rojas who spent time with the Expos, Cubs, Mets Dodgers and Detroit before retiring in 1999 at the age of 32 (who’d have thought that huh?). Rojas the younger was selected by the Bucs in the third round of the 2010 draft largely on the basis of athleticism and tools.

Baseball America’s scouting report (subscription required) noted that Rojas “good bat speed and strength” but noted that he had a flat swing that resulted in a lot of ground balls. There was no question about his speed however as stole 61 bases in 64 attempts for his Wabash Junior College team.

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From, 2010 Rojas worked his way up the Pirates system and in 2012 he was rated the best outfielder in the Florida State League. In 2013 he move to AA where over the next season and a half he posted a .282/.348/.421/.770 line that included 10 homers, 39 doubles and 10 triples in 641 AB giving him a .139 ISO. His base stealing wasn’t as successful as he stole only 20 in 32 attempts.

That work earned him a trip to AAA Indianapolis where he posted a .277/.363/.405/.768 line that included 5 homers, 8 doubles and 4 triples in 242 PA. The 2015 season saw Rojas take a step back as he slashed only .263/.303/.301/.604 in 156 AB with Indianapolis and the Bucs sent him back to Altoona to sort things out. Things were a bit better in AA, his line rose to .257/.314/.374/.715 including 2 homer, 11 doubles and 4 triples.

This year he was back in Indianapolis to start the season but managed only 26 AV in 12 games. Here’s a look back in 2014 when he still had the stroke working.

That’s A Wrap

The Braves are obviously hoping they can figure out what happened to his swing between 2014 and 2015. Rojas is fast and plays all three outfield positions well though he’s seen most of his time in center.

The Pirates had assigned him to extended spring training three days ago to work on his stroke but traded him to Atlanta today when the M-Braves put Sean Godfrey on the disabled list earlier today.

As much as I’d like to hope this was some kind of signal I suspect it’s simply filling a void left by an injury with the hope that they can catch lightning in a bottle and Rojas will get his stroke back.