Phillies' Rojas Tests Positive for PEDs, Out of WBC
The Spin
Narrative A
Johan Rojas is now the third instances of performance enhancing abuse in the Phillies. After José Alvarado's 80-game suspension and Max Kepler's January 2026 ban, Rojas has now tested positive for what he clearly should've known was prohibited by the MLB and WBC. Three PED cases in recent seasons point less to coincidence and more to a troubling pattern within the organization's oversight and clubhouse culture.
Narrative B
While the Phillies may be facing some unresolved questions, the broader statistics surrounding PED use should put fans at ease. MLB conducted 11,700 drug tests in 2025 and issued just two suspensions leaguewide, a sharp contrast to earlier eras that saw double-digit bans. Therapeutic use exemptions have also fallen 37% since 2020, suggesting the system is tighter and PED abuse far less widespread than it was historically.