The New York Mets announced they found Carlos Beltran’s replacement. His name is Luis Rojas. Rojas was actually considered for the job before they hired Beltran in the first place. But, in the wake of Beltran being implicated in the Astros sign-stealing debacle, it would have been the prudent move to make bringing Rojas on in the first place. Especially when you look at his resume.
May Be Young, But an Experienced Coach
Luis Rojas is going to be the second-youngest coach in baseball this season but has been a part of the Mets minor league system as a coach since 2007 at age 26. Coaching in the Dominican Republic for the Mets summer league team, Rojas moved up to the Gulf Coast League Mets one year later. By 2010, he became the manager of the GCL Mets, moving up to Savanah Sand Giants by 2011. In 2012, he won the playoffs in the South Atlantic League. By 2017, he became the manager of the Binghamton Rumble Ponies, being brought up to the big club as the Quality Control Coach last season.
He Can Connect With Mets Big Name Players Better Than Outside Coach
He was a manager for the Sand Giants the year Jacob deGrom posted a 6-3, 2.51 era, 78 k’s over 89.2 innings pitched, 1.015 WHIP 2012 season. He managed Steven Matz on two separate levels of the minors, on two separate teams. He was Pete Alonso’s manager, Brandon Nimmo’s manager, Michael Conforto’s manager, and he also managed Jeff McNeil. He has a rapport with many of the farm-grown Mets who have become fixtures on the big club. This is the guy who knows these players better than most and will be able to get the best out of the team earlier than a vet who’s getting brought in from the outside.
It’s also a plus that he was on the coaching staff last season as well.