New Mets manager Luis Rojas is a relative unknown to most. However, among his attributes, he is already well-respected inside the Mets' clubhouse, has been around the team for over a decade, has tons of managerial experience, and has famous MLB bloodlines.
Here are five things to know about Rojas...
Was viewed as a rising star when he managed in minors
While coaching for the Mets in the minors, Rojas was voted by his peers as the best managerial prospect in the Florida State League (with the High-A St. Lucie Mets) in 2015 and 2016 after being voted as the best managerial prospect in the South Atlantic League (with Low-A) in 2014, according to JJ Cooper of Baseball America.
Is well-respected by current and former Mets
Within an hour of the news breaking that the Mets were hiring Rojas, tweets came in from Marcus Stroman, Dominic Smith, and Pete Alonso, who were all excited about their new manager.
"Loved having Luis in '17 and '18 as my AA manager! It's awesome playing under him and having him on staff last year as well!!! Super pumped to have him as the Jeffe. Also he throws some damn good bp #LFGM"
Having worked with the Mets on the big league staff in 2019 and in the minors for over a decade before that, Rojas has managed/coached many of the players expected to be on the 26-man roster in 2020. That includes Alonso, Smith, and Jeff McNeil, who had this to say about Rojas in July while speaking with Nathalie Alonso of MLB.com:
"I think he'd be a great big league manager. He knows the game really well. He comes from a big baseball family. His emotions [are] real calm. He gets along well with the players. He's just a baseball guy. I think he'd be a tremendous manager."
Is the son of Felipe Alou and brother of Moises Alou
The 38-year-old Rojas is the son of Felipe Alou, who was the first Dominican-born manager in MLB history and managed the Expos from 1992-2001 and Giants from 2003-2006.
Rojas' half brother is Moises Alou, who played in the majors from 1990-2008 (including with the Mets in 2007 and 2008) and was a six-time All-Star.
Is one of six father/son duos to become MLB managers
When Rojas manages his first game for the Mets while following in the footsteps of his father, Felipe, he will join Connie and Earle Mack, George and Dick Sisler, Bob and Joel Skinner, Buddy and David Bell, and Bob and Aaron Boone as father/son duos to manage in Major League Baseball, according to James Wagner of The New York Times.
Has been gradually climbing the organizational ranks
Rojas joined the Mets organization in 2007, when he managed their Dominican Summer League team. He managed the Gulf Coast League Mets in 2008, Low-A Savannah from 2012-2014, High-A St. Lucie from 2015-2016, and Double-A Binghamton in 2018.
After spending over a decade in the minors, Rojas was named the Mets' quality control coach prior to the 2019 season.