Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug during the offseason and is appealing an 80-game suspension. The 25-year-old, who was set to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, did not report to the tournament. Rojas remains eligible for spring training games while the appeal process continues.
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas tested positive for a performance-enhancing drug in the offseason, according to reports from The New York Post's Jon Heyman and confirmed by two league sources to The Athletic on March 3, 2026. As a first-time violation under Major League Baseball's drug policy, Rojas faces an 80-game suspension, which he is appealing. If upheld, the suspension would sideline him from major- and minor-league games until late June 2026 and render him ineligible for the postseason, even if it ends by then.
Rojas, 25, entered spring training in Clearwater, Florida, battling for a roster spot after a disappointing 2025 season. He appeared in 71 games, hitting .224 with a .569 OPS, following a strong 2023 debut where he slashed .302/.342/.430 with 2.4 WAR in 59 games. His career line stands at .252/.294/.340 over 250 big-league games. An elite defender, Rojas struggled offensively, hitting .177/.245/.229 in his final 50 games of 2025 before a demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on August 1 due to a leg injury that also kept him off the postseason roster.
The positive test led Rojas to drop out of the World Baseball Classic for the Dominican Republic; he did not report to Miami with his teammates over the weekend, as first reported by Wilber Sánchez. Despite this, Rojas played in a Grapefruit League game on Sunday against the New York Yankees, starting in center field and going 0-for-2 with one strikeout. He worked out with the Phillies on Tuesday and retains a locker in the clubhouse. He is permitted to participate in exhibition games during the appeal.
The Phillies' outfield depth could be affected. Brandon Marsh is expected in left field, rookie Justin Crawford in center, and Adolis García in right. Otto Kemp is learning left field, while Pedro León and Bryan De La Cruz compete for spots. Prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. is sidelined by knee issues. Rojas recently fired an agent hired during the offseason.
This marks the second Phillies PED suspension in the past year, following reliever Jose Alvarado's 80-game ban in May 2025. Former Phillie Max Kepler also tested positive in January 2026.
