MESA, Ariz. -- It’s a different Spring Training for Josh Rojas -- in a lot of ways.

The previous five seasons saw the Phoenix-area native make simple drives from home for Cactus League games as a hometown D-back. The view and commute time never changed.

A midseason 2023 trade to Seattle changed that. Returning “home” to Phoenix for Spring Training this time around has brought a different vibe, even to go to ballparks that are 20 minutes from his offseason home or from where he played high school ball in Goodyear.

Fitting into the mix is always part of Spring Training in any clubhouse, and that isn’t different for the 29-year-old third baseman.

“The way I fit in is if I play like myself. I think that’s why I got brought over here is to play like I play,” Rojas said. “It’s not like I came over and they wanted me to do something different.”

Rojas was a late scratch from Friday’s 9-5 loss to the Cubs in Mesa when he arrived in the morning with some minor neck issues. He will likely rest again on Saturday and take it day to day after that.

But Rojas was in the lineup a couple of days ago against the Royals. He made a sweet over-the-shoulder running catch on defense and added two RBIs at the plate, and to hear manager Scott Servais tell it, that wasn’t even his best.

“The at-bat that stood out for me is he took the walk. Tough at-bat against a left-hander throwing hard, which kind of set up our big inning there,” Servais said. “Josh has had a really good camp.”

In seven spring games, Rojas is batting .357 with five RBIs, a homer and two doubles. He has as many walks as strikeouts (3), which is significant, for him at least.

Rojas has learned to set “small goals” for himself each spring. Bigger goals follow in due time. His first goal in 2024? Hit a fastball to the pull side. He did that. Now he wants to hit a fastball to the pull side in the air.

And he’s shooting for another goal: keeping his walks and strikeouts even.

Drawing that bases-loaded walk against the Royals was pivotal to what became a five-run inning.

“That just comes with trying to get that timing and really setting your sights in a certain spot,” he said. “That was lefty on lefty. He was erratic and I fouled off a couple good heaters there and got a walk out of it.”

Different result for Hancock
Emerson Hancock lost some touch between his first inning and his second.

Hancock made his MLB debut last August, and sparkled in his first Spring Training start on March 2, when he spun two perfect innings with three strikeouts.

Getting the starting nod Friday against the Cubs, the 24-year-old righty was hit for six earned runs in 1 2/3 innings, though he did strike out three, including getting Cody Bellinger looking. His sinker in particular led to hard contact from Cubs hitters.

“That pitch moves a lot, so I’ve got to fine-tune that and get a little bit better control over it,” he said.

Hancock threw 39 pitches (26 strikes). A broken-bat RBI-single from Seiya Suzuki in the second inning ended his outing.

The No. 6 pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, Hancock has pitched extensively at Double-A, and made three big league starts last season. There’s a chance he opens 2024 at Triple-A Tacoma, where he has yet to throw.

“He didn’t have the same location or stuff as he had the other day,” Servais said Friday. “I actually think he threw the ball OK. I love the improvements he’s made.”

New guy in camp
Servais confirmed Friday that former Mariner AJ Pollock is in camp, though he’s not battling for a roster spot this time around.

The 36-year-old hasn’t officially retired, either by making an announcement or filing papers with Major League Baseball, but he appears to be taking a step toward learning the coaching ropes. He approached the Mariners about taking part in camp, which included sitting in on his first coaches’ meeting in Peoria.

In January 2023 the Mariners signed the veteran right-handed-hitting corner outfielder to a one-year deal. Seattle then dealt him to the Giants at the Trade Deadline. He appeared in just five games with San Francisco.

Pollock spent most of his time in Arizona, and slashed .273/.328/.464 in his 12-year Major League career, which included a 2015 All-Star appearance when he hit .315/.367/.498 with 20 home runs and 39 stolen bases.