Philadelphia, USA – Dominican outfielder Johan Rojas, of the Philadelphia Phillies, will undergo internal brace surgery to repair a tear in the ulnar collateral ligament of his right elbow, a procedure that will keep him out of action for the remainder of the 2026 season.
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The organization announced this Wednesday that the operation is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, with the expectation that the outfielder could be ready to participate in 2027 spring training.
The news represents a new blow for Rojas, who was already serving an 80-game unpaid suspension after testing positive for Boldenone, a prohibited performance-enhancing substance, in violation of Major League Baseball’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.
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According to the Phillies, the player began to feel discomfort in the middle area of his right elbow while increasing the intensity of his workouts with the goal of returning to action. Subsequent medical evaluations and imaging studies confirmed the severity of the injury.
Rojas’ absence forced Philadelphia to modify its plans for the outfield during the current campaign. Although he was originally projected as a depth piece for the team, the suspension and now the injury will keep him away from the field for an extended period.
During the 2025 season, the Dominican player participated in 71 games, standing out for his solid defense in the outfield, although he had offensive difficulties. He finished the campaign with a .224 batting average and a .569 OPS.
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Currently, the Phillies’ outfield has been led by Justin Crawford, Brandon Marsh, and the Cuban Adolis García, as the organization continues to look for alternatives to bolster its defensive depth.
The surgery and the recovery process represent a new challenge in Rojas’ career, who will seek to return fully recovered for the 2027 season.
