MESA, Ariz. — Twenty minutes before squaring off in live batting practice last week, Chicago Cubs right-hander Cade Horton had a message for prospect Jefferson Rojas.
Go easy on me this time.
Horton’s message became prophetic. Rojas, the Cubs’ No. 3 prospect according to Baseball America, homered off the National League rookie of the year runner-up in live BP that day — an all-too-familiar sight for Horton.
“He owns me,” Horton said with a grin. “I think I’ve faced him seven times probably and he’s taken me deep three times, one on a fastball, one on a sinker and one on a slider, so, yeah, I wanted him to go easy on me and obviously he didn’t. Second live BP he took me deep twice.
“Like, all right, dude, we get it, you’re a good hitter,” Horton joked. “He’s a great player. I never got the chance to play with him, but just seeing what he does, the way he works, it’s impressive for a 20-year-old kid. I’m really excited to watch his future and see how that plays out for him.”
Rojas’ performance this spring has made him a standout in camp. An advanced hitter who reached Double A for the first time last year, being part of big-league camp and rising through the farm system has an arrival to the majors in the shortstop’s path.
Chicago Cubs shortstop Jefferson Rojas hits a sacrifice RBI during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers in a Cactus League game at Sloan Park on Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Mesa, Ariz. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
“It definitely feels closer getting to practice with players that play out there,” Rojas said through an interpreter.
Rojas’ hit tool is one of his best attributes. He is getting plenty of opportunities this spring for regular at-bats in Cactus League games and has taken advantage of those chances. Rojas made a couple of tweaks in the offseason, adjusting his posture to stand more upright and separating his hands more. In nine spring games through Monday, Rojas, who turns 21 in April, is 6-for-18 (.333) with one home run, three doubles, .400 on-base percentage and 1.067 OPS.
“There’s obviously a lot of eyes on him, and for him to stay calm and stay steady and perform in spring and show us real development is really impressive,” director of player development Jason Kanzler told the Tribune. “Obviously, the more exposure he has to the highest levels of competition, the more familiar and calibrated he is with the end goal of what he needs to do in his development journey.
“We’re going to rely on him at some point in the future so it’s really great that he’s going to get to spend so much more time with them.”
One of the most encouraging parts of Rojas’ journey is the damage he’s doing offensively, predominantly against pitchers older than him. Since signing with the Cubs as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2022, Rojas has recorded only six of 1,368 minor-league plate appearances against a pitcher younger than him. Five of those came last year.
“The goal for that would be at the end of the year he’s ready to play in the major leagues, I think that’s how we would see it,” manager Craig Counsell said. “He’s 20, so that’s an ambitious goal right there, but he’s having a great camp, and the way he’s kind of matured in the batter’s box over the last two years, getting spring training looks from him is really fun to see.”
The small diamond-encrusted goat pendant around his neck glitters in the Arizona sun as Rojas goes through his pregame batting practice. Gifted to him by his brother, Rojas always carries it with him. One day he hopes he’s wearing it when he steps onto the field at Wrigley for the first time as a big-leaguer.
“If God gives me the opportunity to be there, that would be incredible,” Rojas said.
