Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies has been suspended without pay for 80 games after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs, Major League Baseball confirmed.
Rojas, 25, had been appealing a potential ban following an alleged positive test for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid that increases muscle mass and strength, but MLB announced his appeal was denied, leaving the suspension in effect.
He becomes the sixth player disciplined this year for a drug violation, and the third under the major league agreement. Earlier suspensions this year include Jurickson Profar of the Atlanta Braves, who received a season-long ban for testing positive for testosterone, and free agent Max Kepler, who was suspended for 80 games for Epitrenbolone.
Rojas was initially set to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic but was removed from the roster. He would be eligible to return to the Phillies on June 25, assuming no rainouts, but will forfeit $395,305 of his contract ($803,500 at the major league rate and $321,826 at the minor league rate) and will be barred from the 2026 postseason.
Last season, Rojas batted .224 with one home run, 18 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. He was sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs on August 1 and did not play for Philadelphia afterward. This spring, he went 3-for-15 with one RBI in spring training.
