Phillies’ outfielder Johan Rojas is reported to have received an 80-game suspension by Major League Baseball following a positive reading on a test for performance enhancing drugs. Rumors of Rojas’ suspension began to circulate late Sunday evening as Rojas was meant to report to the World Baseball Classic Dominican Republic squad. The rumors were substantiated on Tuesday by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. In addition to an 80-game suspension from MLB, Rojas is now ineligible to participate in the World Baseball Classic.
While the substance that Rojas tested positive for has yet to be revealed, sources told the Athletic that the positive test was submitted during the offseason. As seen in recent cases, the testing process that Major League Baseball undergoes seems to take several months before the positive test is confirmed and news of the test is revealed to the public.
Rojas, 25, concluded his third year on the Major League roster in 2025, putting out a career-low .224 batting average. The fast center fielder only appeared in 70 games overall after once being looked at as a platoon partner for Brandon Marsh in center field.
Going into 2026, Rojas’ spot on the depth chart has fallen lower to the point where he easily could have lost his bench outfield position should another candidate have had a good Spring. In his 11 at bats thus far this Spring, Rojas has only notched one hit, though he has swiped two bags on the basepath.
Appeal pending, Rojas will be forced to watch from the sidelines as he rides out an 80-game suspension. Rojas is eligible, however, to continue to play in Grapefruit League action throughout the Spring.
It is worth noting that Rojas is now the third player on the 2025 Phillies roster to test positive for PED’s. Jose Alvarado lived out his 80-game suspension for exogenous testosterone last season. Then, two months ago, Max Kepler got hit with a suspension due to his use of epitrenbolone.
While it is likely a bizarre coincidence that the three players all ended up testing positive for different PED’s while connected to the same organization, it does not bode well for the Phillies that multiple players have tested positive in the past year.
For now, the Dominican Republic will need to call in another outfielder to replace Rojas. Cristopher Sánchez is now the lone Phillies player on what will be an interesting DR squad.
