ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

D-backs INF Josh Rojas to start rehab assignment in Triple-A Reno

May 3, 2022, 10:57 AM | Updated: 1:38 pm

Josh Rojas #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners a...

Josh Rojas #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks during the seventh inning against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park on September 10, 2021 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Josh Rojas will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on Tuesday, his next step toward returning to the major-league club.

Rojas has yet to make his season debut after suffering an oblique strain during spring training.

The 27-year-old was hitting the ball hard before the injury with three doubles and a pair of home runs in 19 spring at-bats.

He was primarily playing third base, a spot filled by five D-backs players in 24 games to start the 2022 season.

Sergio Alcantara has been the primary starter at the hot corner, and he is batting .130 in 46 at-bats. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has slid over for a couple of starts in the past three games, as well.

Rojas has been performing in extended spring training games while gearing up for his minor-league rehab stint. He started taking live at-bats last week.

The infielder has been a versatile player for the D-backs since making his MLB debut in 2019. He has played both middle infield and corner outfield spots as well as third base.

Rojas was also one of the more productive bats in the lineup last year. He hit .277 with an OPS of .810 in 110 games before experiencing a late-season decline as he pushed through a shoulder injury.

He had surgery during the offseason and said at spring training he felt the injury affected his power down the stretch.

Rojas is working his way back to a lineup that can use a jolt. Arizona is No. 25 in the league in runs and No. 29 in hits.

The offense has perked up recently with 18 runs over the past four games, though, as the team is inching toward the .500 mark at 11-13.

Rojas will bat third for the Aces on Tuesday as the designated hitter.

The D-backs, meanwhile, have two more road games against the Miami Marlins before returning home to face the Colorado Rockies in a three-game set over the weekend.

First pitch from Miami on Tuesday is set for 3:40 p.m., and you can listen on ESPN 620 AM or 98.7 FM HD-2.

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