NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
Johan Rojas will be officially suspended 80 games without pay by Major League Baseball following a failed appeal after being tested for a banned performance-enhancing drug.
The league announced the official suspension of Rojas, the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder, after testing positive for Boldenone, an anabolic steroid.
Earlier this month, news broke that Rojas, 25, failed the test. As a result, he not only faced a suspension from the MLB, but was also removed from the World Baseball Classic (WBC) roster in the Dominican Republic.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 28, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The Dominican Republic fell to Team USA, 2-1, in the WBC semi-finals on Monday night, as the latter now heads to the finals to await the winner of Venezuela and Italy.
Rojas won’t be able to play until the second half of the MLB season, and if the Phillies make the playoffs, he won’t be eligible for the roster.
BRAVES STAR FACES 162-GAME SUSPENSION AFTER SECOND FAILED PERFORMANCE ENHANCED DRUG TEST: REPORT
Rojas has played his entire career with the Phillies thus far, making his major league debut in 2023. After offensive struggles, Rojas was demoted back to the minor leagues in 2024, although he still managed to play 120 games for Philadelphia.
In 2025, Rojas hit .224/.280/.289 with a .569 OPS in 71 games for the Phillies. He hit just one home run and scored 18 RBIs in 172 plate appearances.
Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies makes a catch against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 2, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Before being suspended, Rojas was hitting .167 in 24 at-bats in spring training.
With his appeal denied, Rojas became the second major league player to receive a lengthy suspension, although Atlanta Braves star Jurickson Profar will be forced to miss the entire 2026 season after receiving a 162-game suspension for his second PED violation.
Profar was suspended 80 games last season after a positive test in March for chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is a hormone that helps produce testosterone in the body.
Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies looks on against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park on June 28, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Profar also intended to ask the MLBPA to file a grievance to appeal any disciplinary action earlier this month.
