The 2026 World Baseball Classic is mere days away. The Philadelphia Phillies have a plethora of talent partaking in the tournament, but will have one less representative after rumors of a positive test for a banned substance surfaced on Sunday. Outfielder Johan Rojas was removed from the Dominican Republic team roster, reportedly in the wake of this failed test, and now his spot with the Phillies also seems at risk to begin the year. Their general manager, Nelson Cruz, announced the roster change on Monday. If confirmed, Rojas would be the third Phillies player over the past year to test positive for a performance-enhancing drug.
Rojas was fighting for an outfield spot this spring training on top of getting to play in a WBC that is expected to bring all sorts of fireworks this year. He played 71 games at the major league level and hit .224 with a .569 OPS. Now, he faces an immediate dismissal from the WBC and is now risking possible disciplinary action from MLB. It hasn't been confirmed what Rojas tested positive for at this point - or if he did test positive - but if the rumors are confirmed, he will join former teammate Max Kepler and current teammate José Alvarado as the Phillies to have popped for a banned substance within the last year.
Johan Rojas' positive drug test rumors put Phillies in uncomfortable light
The Phillies have always been a clean and professional franchise. That reputation could take a hit after such a flurry of bad news surrounding last season's club.
Alvarado carried the first shocking positive Phillies drug test. He tested positive in May of last season and was served an 80-game suspension without pay. The suspension forced the Phillies to lose their most consistent reliever out of the bullpen for that period of time, as well as the entire postseason. It's also difficult to argue that losing Alvarado didn't play a massive factor in dampening their World Series aspirations. Alvarado finished the season with a 4-2 record, 3.81 ERA, and 32 strikeouts in 26 innings pitched.
The other notable name was their one-year signing of outfielder Max Kepler. Kepler underwhelmed across the board in 2025 with a .216/.300/.391 slash line. He didn't accrue enough plate appearances to qualify due to being platooned, but his .691 OPS would have ranked behind Nick Castellanos among the worst outfielders in MLB. He tested positive in January, leaving Phillies fans in shock based on how poorly he played for the 127 games he suited up for the Phillies with the aid ofillegal substances. Furthermore, he will serve his suspension immediately even though he remains a free agent.
The Phillies will have to move on from this somehow, but it won't be easy to shake with how close all of them happened together. It's something that may linger for a while, but all the Phillies can do is address it and continue to focus on 2026 and their continued pursuit of a championship.