Could the next manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers already be wearing the uniform—just on the field, not in the dugout? That's the intriguing question bubbling up from recent reports about veteran shortstop Miguel Rojas.

Rojas had previously indicated he would retire after the 2026 season to spend more time with his children. But according to Dodgers Nation's Doug McKain, that retirement might only mark the end of his playing days—not his tenure with the organization.

"If I had to have my pick, I'm taking Miguel Rojas all day, every day, twice on Sunday, and on Game 7, too," McKain said. "He has this special ability to communicate with everyone. Superstars like Shohei Ohtani, young players like Roki Sasaki—you see him on the top deck dancing with Roki's bobblehead, cool with Kiké Hernández. This guy's got a magnetic personality. Also, baseball IQ off the charts."

McKain believes Rojas would be the ideal successor to current manager Dave Roberts, who is 53 years old and in his 11th season at the helm. The comparison between the two players-turned-potential-managers is striking. Roberts wasn't a top prospect; he had to fight and claw to stay in the show. His defining moment? The legendary 2004 ALCS steal against the Yankees. Rojas, meanwhile, will forever be remembered for his dramatic home run in Game 7 of the World Series. Both players delivered improbable postseason heroics that cement their legacies.

"That's what I like about Miggy Ro," McKain added. "He's great with the media, great with his teammates."

Of course, Rojas' path to the manager's office would likely benefit from some coaching or front-office experience first—taking over one of sports' premier franchises is no small task. But history shows that players who successfully make the transition often do so with the team they once played for. Roberts himself spent time with the San Diego Padres' coaching staff and front office before returning to Los Angeles, where he had previously played from 2002 to 2004.

Whether 2026 or 2027 marks Rojas' final season as a player, one thing is clear: his leadership, baseball IQ, and ability to connect with everyone from superstars to rookies make him a compelling candidate to one day take the torch from Dave Roberts and lead the Dodgers from the dugout.