Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas has been officially suspended for 80 games without pay after testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing drug (PED), Major League Baseball announced.
According to the league, the 25-year-old center fielder tested positive for Boldenone, a prohibited anabolic steroid.
The news follows a turbulent month for Rojas, whose failed drug test was first signaled when he was abruptly removed from the Dominican Republic’s roster for the World Baseball Classic.
While Rojas reportedly attempted to appeal the league’s decision, the appeal was unsuccessful, making the 80-game ban final.
The suspension is set to begin on March 26, the Phillies’ opening day matchup at home against the Texas Rangers. Under league rules, Rojas will miss approximately half of the 2026 season and will be ineligible for any postseason play.
A career stalled by offensive struggles
Rojas, who has spent his entire professional career within the Phillies organization, made a promising major-league debut in 2023. However, his momentum slowed in 2024, and by last season, he was demoted to the minor leagues due to significant offensive regression.
Across 71 games in 2025, Rojas struggled to find his rhythm at the plate, recording a .224 batting average and a .569 OPS with just one home run and 12 stolen bases.
Prior to the suspension being finalized this spring, his performance in Grapefruit League action remained inconsistent, as he slashed .167/.259/.467 over 24 at-bats.
This suspension adds a significant hurdle to his efforts to reclaim a permanent spot in the Philadelphia lineup.
League-wide crackdown on PEDs
Rojas is the latest high-profile name caught in a renewed wave of PED enforcement across the league. Earlier this month, the Atlanta Braves lost designated hitter Jurickson Profar, who was issued a 162-game suspension following a second PED offense.
For the Phillies, the loss of Rojas forces a realignment in center field just as the 2026 campaign kicks off.
With the team aiming for a deep run in the National League, losing a young, speed-oriented defender for the first half of the year-and the entirety of the playoffs-leaves a notable void in their roster depth.
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