Q&A With ESPN Reporter Enrique Rojas Talking Baseball
Enrique Rojas on trade rumors, the Cubs, and advice for young aspiring sports journalists.
Enrique Rojas is one of ESPN’s most renowned baseball reporters according to ESPNMedia Zone. Mr. Rojas is a sports reporter and covers the MLB and the famous winter league.
It’s early in the baseball season, and I wanted to start the season off with a “bang.” Getting the opportunity to interview Mr. Rojas was exactly that.
Not only is Mr. Rojas here to talk baseball, but he’s here to give tips to young aspiring sports journalists. Here is what he had to say.
Jonathan Bates: It’s an honor to interview an ICON in this sports industry. Every great ESPN reporter has a story or journey that they went through to get to ESPN, What was yours? What made you pursue this career?
Enrique Rojas: In my case, the trip started long ago, in the Dominican Republic. Like the vast majority of Dominicans I played a lot of baseball since I learned to walk, but unlike others, I realized early on that I did not have the talent or physical conditions to impress, so I decided I wanted to be a sports journalist .
Basically, I prepared all my life to do what I do, first in the school of locution and then in the Dominican public university. Entering ESPN was a top goal in a series of small steps that I self-imposed.
On the other hand, when I joined ESPN I already had a name in the Latin American market because I had been an Associated Press (AP) sports correspondent for 10 years. In short, it was a long way to get to ESPN, but on the way it was made easier by all the stages that I had to burn before.
Jonathan Bates: There are many young people in the sports world who would like to know, what does it take to work at ESPN, and is having a journalism major key?
Enrique Rojas: Well, basically the same tools that are needed in any mass media. I do not think ESPN has different requirements. The difference could lie in ourselves. Sometimes we underestimate the readiness to do our job and on ESPN that is a capital sin. But if you respect your career, you should be prepared to go on the air or write without needing someone to remind you.
Jonathan Bates: You are like the “Mike Trout” of ESPN Deportes, many people look at you from the Spanish area not only for sports but in general. I hear your name a lot about how big you are in your art, what would you like to do to give back to your people in the long run?
Enrique Rojas: Hahaha. Actually, I’m nothing like that. I am a simple information artisan.
Jonathan Bates: I know you cover the winter league and MLB, which league is the most fun to cover? Which league brings out your best work?
Enrique Rojas: All the winter leagues have their particular things, although for being Dominican I have been more tied to Lidom than the others. But in reality, all the winter leagues have their own charm, their advantages and their differences with respect to the others. They are the same, but different. All attractive and passionate.
Jonathan Bates: What is the difference between baseball games now than when you were young?
Enrique Rojas: Now we have more information and less use the hunch and the palpito. While we have more statistics that measure everything a player can do, we also have social networks and the facility to see almost every game every day. That’s way different from the kind of information we handled when I started this race.
Suffice it to say that when I started in journalism I wrote in a mechanical Olivetti machine and later I went to electric machine and when I used my first computer had already published dozens of notes, including covers, in the main newspapers of the Dominican Republic.
Jonathan Bates: Talent wise, is modern baseball better than baseball 20–40 years ago?
Enrique Rojas: They say all past times were better, but I do not think so. Every day we are writing a page of advance in life and that includes baseball. Stadiums, broadcasts, commercial rights, contracts, marketing and even today’s players are better.
Jonathan Bates: Let’s shift to today's’ baseball. The World Series Champions Chicago Cubs are getting off to a slow start, do you think Cubs fans should hit the panic button and what are rival execs saying about the Cubs right now?
Enrique Rojas: Of course not. Chicago has played poorly, but stays close to a place in the playoffs. This is a team that has talent for improvement and as long as they do not find themselves eight games out of first place — like Miami, Oakland and San Diego — then there should be no panic on the north side of Chicago.
Jonathan Bates: I know you cover the Yankees a lot, Are they for real or this is the same Yankees team that start hot and cool off late in the season?
Enrique Rojas: This is a team younger than the previous and therefore, should have more energy at the end of the season. I do not know if the Yankees are going to keep in the first place of their division, but it is clear that this is a team that could win about 90 games. With that said, it should be enough to achieve a Wild Card and start Masahiro Tanaka or Michael Pineda to seek to advance to the divisional round.
Jonathan Bates: I know it’s early, but what is your World Series, MVP and Rookie of the Year Award preditctions?
Enrique Rojas: LOL. If I knew that, I would be a happy man. But I’ll take the challenge: Dodgers to win the World Series, Corey Seager MVP and Cody Bellinger Rookie Of The Year. I Know, I Know, too much Dodgers, but “I Have Dreams”..
Jonathan Bates: It’s safe to say you are a Dodger fan, Well lets switch our conversation to the younger players. I know it is going to be tough for you to do this, but name your top five best international players as of now. Before you give your answer I am choosing Javy Báez at №1, he’s the definition of MLB.
Enrique Rojas: 1.Carlos Correa (Astros), 2.Francisco Lindor (Indians), 3.Gary Sánchez (Yankees) 4.Yoan Moncada (White Sox) and 5. Amed Rosario (Mets). Later: 1.Gleyber Torres (Yankees), 2.Eloy Jiménez (Cubs), 3.Victor Robles (Nats), 4.Francis Martes (Astros) and 5. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays).
Jonathan Bates: Lastly, is there anything we should know or keep are eyes on heading down to the trade deadline, any early rumors?
Enrique Rojas: Yes, if the Blue Jays do not improve, they are likely to be forced to market Marco Estrada and Francisco Liriano and, who knows, Josh Donaldson. The Marlins could also change a couple of pieces, if there is already a sale of the club by July 31.
You can find Enrique Rojas on twitter @Enrique_Rojas1 . The Spanish version will be on the page soon.
