Nestor Rojas Named 2017 San Jose Giants Manager
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Jan 11, 2017
By Joe Ritzo
A familiar face returns to Municipal Stadium this year as former San Jose Giants catcher Nestor Rojas has been named the club’s manager for the 2017 season. Rojas takes over for Lipso Nava, who was recently named hitting coach for the Double-A Richmond Flying Squrrels.
The 2017 San Jose Giants coaching staff
Rojas played in San Jose during the 2009 season helping the Giants to a team record 93 wins and a California League championship. He saw action in 27 games for San Jose that year and hit .293 with three home runs and 18 RBI’s. Rojas played seven seasons in the San Francisco Giants organization from 2004 through 2010 advancing as high as Triple-A.
After retiring at the end of the 2010 season, Rojas immediately began his coaching career. In 2011, he was assigned to Class-A Augusta where he served as the GreenJackets’ hitting coach for two seasons. A bright up-and-coming coaching talent, Rojas landed his first managerial job at age 29 with the Arizona Rookie League Giants in 2013. In his first year as a manager, Rojas directed the AZL Giants to an incredible 41?14 record (.745 winning percentage) and the Arizona Rookie League championship. Prospects (and future San Jose standouts) Christian Arroyo, Ryder Jones and Jonah Arenado each began their professional careers as teenagers under Rojas during that 2013 season.
Rojas returned to manage the AZL Giants the following year and led the team to a 34?22 record ? the second-best mark in the league. The AZL Giants again qualified for the playoffs, but came up short in their bid for back-to-back titles falling in the league championship game.
Rojas then found his way back to Augusta for the 2015 season, this time as a manager. The ’15 GreenJackets posted a 65?73 record under Rojas ? his only year to date with a sub-.500 record. Last year with Rojas back at the helm, Augusta fashioned a 76?63 record ? the top overall mark in the South Atlantic League’s South Division. The GreenJackets were especially strong during the second half last season finishing at 40?29 after the All-Star break (2 1/2 games out of first place). In all likelihood, many of the top players who helped Augusta to that impressive second half record will join Rojas in San Jose this spring.
2017 marks Rojas’ fifth year overall as a manager in the San Francisco Giants organization. The 33-year old possesses an excellent 216?172 career managerial record (.557 winning percentage).
Rojas, a native of Venezuela, becomes the 17th manager in the 30-year history of the San Jose Giants. He’s the second former San Jose Giants player to return as manager (Steve Decker).
Pitching coach Mike Couchee and hitting coach Todd Linden round out the 2017 San Jose Giants staff. Couchee returns for his fifth season in San Jose while Linden enters his second year with the Giants. Ydwin Villegas, who served as San Jose’s first base coach the last two seasons, will coach in Augusta this year.
Nestor Rojas was a catcher on the 2009 San Jose Giants championship team