The Philadelphia Phillies’ reputation took another hit this week, as the organization finds itself embroiled in a doping scandal that has sidelined one of its young outfielders from the World Baseball Classic.

Just a few days ago, we heard that Freddy Peralta was going to skip the WBC due to personal problems. Then, 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 25-year-old Dominican outfielder in that list.

“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,” reported Wilber Sánchez.

Sánchez stated that suspension removes Johan Rojas 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 result with the WBC does not automatically trigger an MLB suspension.

League officials must conduct an independent review before imposing the standard 80-game suspension.

Still, uncertainty creates tension inside the Bryce Harper-led clubhouse that has already had its problems this offseason.

Their offseason had been quiet with questionable roster depth and a lack of outfield upgrades. They have already released Nick Castellanos, relying more on Brandon Marsh as a stable, everyday contributor and top prospect Justin Crawford as the projected starting center fielder.

Plus, Harper had been reportedly frustrated because of the slow improvements and an absence of “splashy” moves.

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 around Crawford and veteran Bryan De La Cruz at center field.

Crawford strengthened case after posting an impressive .334 batting average at Triple A. Meanwhile, Bryan De La Cruz hit just .193 in only 16 games.

Insiders projected De La Cruz winning the bench role, pushing Johan Rojas toward the minor leagues.

Rojas might have just traded national pride for some laboratory validation. This is going to taint his career and may be a concern for any team that will look to sign him in the future. The question now is, will there be further action on this, or is it just going to be missing the WBC?

The Phillies face backlash after Johan Rojas misses the WBC due to alleged doping

MLB fans are not letting this slip and are taking every chance to let the Phillies nation know that their management is not doing a good job. “Phillies lovvvvvveeee cheating that’s 3 in the past year,” one frustrated fan posted online. Over the last three seasons, José Alvarado served an 80-game suspension, and Max Kepler was banned in January 2026 for the same reasons. Now, Rojas joins that list after reportedly testing positive. With three cases over the recent past, the Phillies must tighten oversight and internal accountability and start to think of their reputation as a franchise.

Another wrote, “What the hell? Performance enhancing and still stinks?” Despite a supposed boost from banned substances, Johan Rojas hit just .224 with a .569 OPS in 71 games last season for the Phillies. In a game against the White Sox, he went 0-for-4 at the plate, reinforcing a season where his bat rarely helped the team. His defense may be strong at times, but the overall numbers still show he didn’t hit well enough to justify the alleged PED use.

“Dominicans are lucky for this one,” one commented after Rojas missed the WBC roster. Johan Rojas struggled offensively. When the Phillies lost to the Yankees in July, he went hitless with two strikeouts. Defensive mistakes also surfaced, including confusing plays and mental lapses during the game against the Braves later in the season.

“Put Barry Bonds in the Hall of Fame,” one fan argued after the banned substance revelations. PEDs promise performance boosts, yet many players like Johan Rojas and Max Kepler struggle to produce meaningful, consistent numbers. Barry Bonds hit 762 home runs and won seven MVP awards. His .609 on-base percentage in 2004 shows elite discipline beyond steroid allegations. So, the debate to induct Bonds in HoF continues…

“He should be looking to get a refund for whatever it was,” joked another. Rojas posted just a .289 on-base percentage across 71 games. He drove in only 23 runs, showing limited impact despite regular defensive appearances. On June 28, against the Marlins, he misplayed a deep fly, allowing an extra-base hit that extended the inning and shifted momentum.

Johan Rojas now represents another test of accountability for the Philadelphia Phillies’ leadership structure. If doping allegations keep surfacing, the Philadelphia Phillies risk credibility.