Two Players. Two Institutions. One Organization. One Dream.
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim made the boyhood dreams of two NAIA players come true. A pair who has competed against each other on the diamond during their college days. Their timelines and ascents are similar and their relationship goes back to 2015.
Westmont College and Vanguard University have played countless games against each other as founding members of the Golden State Athletic Conference in 1986. The clashes became ever personified in two infielders want to make it to the Big Leagues against all odds.
In the 2015 campaign, Jose Rojas and Michael Stefanic met on the field for the first time. Rojas a shortstop, Stefanic a second basemen. Both had smooth gloves, electric bats, and an insatiable competitive drive.
Stefanic began his career at Westmont as a freshman and was All-Conference and Conference Gold Glove winner all four years. Rojas was a transfer and reached the All-GSAC and Gold Glove teams in both years he was eligible.
Rojas won the first Rawlings NAIA Gold Glove in program history. Stefanic the third for the Warriors. Each was selected as Conference Player of the Year during their senior season in college.
Rojas was selected in the 36th round of the MLB draft while Stefanic went undrafted. That did not stop either of them. Despite not being expected to contribute much at the next level, they both impressed the organization and moved up the ranks thanks to their powerful offensive output.
"Every step of the way I just gotta thank God for the opportunity and the Angels for allowing me to achieve this childhood dream," said Rojas.
Rojas was welcomed to The Show on April 2, 2021 and was with the organization for the rest of the season and the start of the 2022 year. In all, he appeared in 68 games for the Angels before being bumped down to the Salt Lake City Bees, the Triple-A affiliate of the club.
Stefanic broke through on July 3, 2022 and recorded his first hit – a single to right field – on July 5th in a loss at Miami. He is expected to be the clubs starting second baseman going forward.
“I’ve been dreaming about this day for a long time,” Stefanic told the Orange County Register on his first morning in a big league clubhouse. “Really just excited to get here. I want to win ballgames. That’s what I’m about. That’s what I’ve always been about.”
One grew up in Boise, Idaho just under 900 miles away from Angels Stadium. The other just down the street. Neither were expected to be Major League players. Both kept the faith and proved the doubters wrong.