Just a few days ago, we heard that Freddy Peralta was going to skip the WBC due to some personal problems. And we had players like Jose Ramirez and Elly De Le Cruz who pulled out due to injury concerns, meaning that the Dominican Republic was going to miss out on some of its biggest names. And now, we have a Phillies player who is going to miss out because he has ‘allegedly’ been caught doping.

Wilber Sánchez reported that, “Dominican outfielder Johan Rojas of the Philadelphia Phillies has tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance and will not be eligible to participate in the 2026 World Baseball Classic.”

Dominican outfielder Johan Rojas tested positive for a banned substance. That result immediately ruled him ineligible for the 2026 World Baseball Classic.

Sánchez stated that suspension removes him from international play and complicates the Philadelphia Phillies roster. He never reported to the Dominican Republic camp when players assembled for official workouts. That absence triggered concern before a positive test surfaced hours later through reports.

Fortunately for Rojas, WBC and MLB operate completely separate drug testing programs. A positive WBC result does not automatically trigger a Major League Baseball suspension.

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League officials must conduct an independent review before imposing the standard 80-game suspension punishment. That delay gives Rojas temporary breathing room while waiting for MLB to make a move.

Still, uncertainty alone creates tension inside the clubhouse that has already had problems this offseason.

Rojas was already battling for a roster spot after hitting just .224 last season. His offensive struggles continued with a disappointing .569 OPS across 71 games. The Phillies valued his speed and defense, but the lineup needed more consistent offense.

Management added Adolis García while planning future around prospect Justin Crawford and Bryan De La Cruz at center field. Crawford strengthened case after posting an impressive .334 batting average at Triple A level last season. Meanwhile, Bryan De La Cruz hit .193 across 16 games last season in MLB.

Insiders projected De La Cruz winning the bench role, pushing Rojas toward the minor leagues. Johan Rojas might have just traded national pride for some laboratory validation. This is going to taint his career and is going to be a concern for any team that will look to sign him. The question now is, will there be further action on this, or is it just going to be missing the WBC?