Alex Bregman among veterans Jefferson Rojas is watching as Cubs prospect wows in camp
Jefferson Rojas, the Cubs’ No. 5 prospect and a 20-year-old non‑roster invitee, has been turning heads in major‑league camp, and he says one goal is to study veterans such as alex bregman, Nico Hoerner and Dansby Swanson.
Backfield blast and Cactus League power swings
Rojas launched a home run in live batting practice off right‑hander Cade Horton on a backfield at the Cubs’ Mesa complex, and Horton estimated he’s faced Rojas seven times over the years, with Rojas homering in three of those matchups. Rojas has also homered in two Cactus League games, including a 438‑foot changeup that helped lift the Cubs over the Brewers on Wednesday at American Family Field of Phoenix, a shot Statcast marked as a no‑doubter.
Alex Bregman among infield veterans Rojas is studying
As a non‑roster invitee and the youngest player in major‑league camp this year, Rojas said through a translator that he wants to "Observe a lot of the veterans like alex bregman, Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson. " Manager Craig Counsell praised the 20‑year‑old’s progress, saying, "Jefferson’s made a great impression" and adding, "we’ve got a good offensive player here that’s going to impact the baseball and do some damage. "
Cleaned‑up mechanics and unexpected power for his size
Rojas’ listed height and weight — 5‑foot‑11 and 150 pounds — are noted as outdated, but coaches point to strength work and swing efficiency as the source of his pop. Hitting coach Dustin Kelly, who first saw Rojas in the Dominican Republic, said Rojas has improved his lower half and posture, and that "his swing path is really cleaned up, " a change Kelly credits with generating harder contact than expected for a 20‑year‑old in a major‑league camp setting.
On the offensive side, a separate camp snapshot showed Rojas slashing. 357/. 438/. 714 in seven Cactus League games entering Saturday, a small sample that has drawn attention from teammates and staff alike. Though Rojas has nearly 1, 400 minor‑league plate appearances with a. 715 OPS and a tough first taste of Double‑A last year, club evaluators emphasize his age relative to competition and the learning opportunity camp provides.
Horton, who faced Rojas in that live BP session, shook his head at Rojas’ success: "Jefferson, he owns me, " Horton said, later adding praise for Rojas’ maturity and skill. That sentiment has been echoed around the complex as Rojas continues to take batting practice and appear in Cactus League action.
Rojas remains a non‑roster invitee in major‑league camp, and the next roster milestone on the horizon is Opening Day; club officials have framed his visit as a chance to learn from veterans rather than an expectation to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster.
