José Rojas, the 37-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers infielder and three-time Roy Campanella Award winner, is facing a pivotal moment in his 13-year Major League Baseball career. With his current one-year, $5.5 million contract set to expire this winter, Rojas is weighing the possibility of retirement while also expressing a strong desire to remain with the Dodgers organization.
Rojas reflected on his career’s unexpected highs, including becoming a 2025 World Series hero, emphasizing that success can come at any point in a player’s journey. Despite the uncertainty about his future on the field, he is clear on one point: if he continues playing, it will be exclusively with the Dodgers. “I wouldn’t play for another team,” he said, noting his recent championship wins and key role in the current season as factors in his loyalty.
If Rojas decides to step away from playing, he plans to transition into a role within the Dodgers’ player development department, with management ambitions in mind. His connection to the team remains strong, and he envisions contributing off the field in the years to come.
Parallel to his professional crossroads, Rojas is preparing for a significant milestone outside of baseball. Originally scheduled for January, his U.S. naturalization test was delayed due to strained diplomatic relations between the United States and Venezuela, his home country. The delay followed the U.S. military’s covert operation capturing Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in early January, which prompted the Department of Homeland Security to halt immigration applications from nationals of so-called “high risk” countries, including Venezuela.
Last week, Rojas received notification that his citizenship test would take place on October 2 in Miami, allowing him to complete this important step without conflicting with the Dodgers’ postseason schedule. The timing coincides with the start of the National League Division Series, where the Dodgers will be seeking a third consecutive World Series title—an achievement no National League team has accomplished before.
Rojas acknowledged the veteran-heavy makeup of the current Dodgers roster and the unique opportunity it presents. “We’re not going to play until we’re 50 and be this good,” he said. “But if this is a window that we have to be great, why not try to go after it?”
As a father of two children born and raised in Miami, Rojas expressed excitement about becoming a United States citizen, while maintaining a deep connection to his Venezuelan roots. He looks forward to continuing his career in baseball within the United States, whether on the field or in a developmental capacity in the Dodgers organization.