Major League Baseball announced that top star has been handed an 80-game suspension after testing positive for Boldenone, a banned performance-enhancing drug, in violation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The positive test became public a few weeks ago while he was in the process of appealing the ruling. With the appeals process now complete, the suspension will take effect at the start of the 2026 season.
The 25-year-old has served as a regular fixture in center field for the Philadelphia Phillies for much of the past three seasons. Rojas is widely praised for his elite defense and speed on the bases, but his offensive production has lagged behind. Dating back to the beginning of the 2024 campaign, he has posted a .237/.279/.312 slash line, good for a 64 wRC+, meaning he has performed 36 percent worse than league average offensively during that span.
Those offensive struggles have already led the Phillies to reduce their reliance on Rojas. At last season’s trade deadline, the club brought in Harrison Bader, who later departed via free agency. Looking ahead, Philadelphia plans to hand the center field job to top prospect Justin Crawford.
Under normal circumstances, Rojas might have opened 2026 as a fourth outfielder or logged consistent playing time in the minors, serving as a defensive and speed-oriented safety net if Crawford struggled early against big-league pitching. That option is now unavailable for the first half of the season. While Rojas will be eligible to return later in the year, players suspended for PED violations are barred from postseason play.
The suspension also thins the Phillies’ depth in center field. Brandon Marsh has experience at the position but is likely better suited to a corner role. Pedro León is on the 40-man roster but has appeared in only seven major league games. Meanwhile, Dylan Moore has limited center field experience and is not currently on the roster, though he could be added as a versatile bench option.
With Opening Day approaching, the Phillies may still look to bolster their center field coverage. As teams finalize rosters, potential options could emerge via waivers or free agency, giving Philadelphia a chance to add insurance at a key defensive position in the weeks ahead.