Los Angeles Dodgers’ utility man Miguel Rojas now has a new title to go along with World Series champion: United States citizen.
While the team was preparing to face the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series, there was one thing Rojas needed to get done before the rush of the postseason started: take his citizenship test.
The Venezuelan-born Rojas, 37, flew down to Miami on Oct. 1, two days before Game 1 of the NLDS, to finish the naturalization process.
The following day, Rojas officially became a United States citizen after two decades of playing baseball in the U.S.
“I wanted to do it for my family, for my kids and for the future of them. So I’m really proud of being an American,” Rojas said in an interview on Sunday.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Rojas had originally scheduled his citizenship test in January during the offseason. However, due to tense relations between the U.S. and Venezuela, his process was deadlocked.
It was eventually moved, but ended up being scheduled right before the Dodgers’ postseason run began.
Miguel Rojas takes field for first time as US citizen
In Game 2 of the NLDS, after being told he would start in the hot corner in place of Max Muncy, Rojas stepped onto the diamond as a newly minted U.S. citizen.
The decision to insert Rojas into the starting lineup came after the Braves made announced left-hander Ray Kerr would be their starter in a bullpen game.
It proved to be the right call initially, with Rojas tagging Kerr for a double in his only at bat before being replaced by Muncy following a pitching change.
The Dodgers would ultimately lose to the Braves in Game 2 with a score of 3-2, but both Rojas and Muncy looked good in their at-bats.
Rojas is set to become a free agent after this year’s World Series, but has already announced plans to retire at the end of the postseason. He says he plans to move into a player development role with the Dodgers after his playing career is over.
With his retirement plans seemingly set and his citizenship process over, there is only one thing left for Miguel Rojas to do, to help his team win the World Series—again.
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