Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas will not compete for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic this month.
Nelson Cruz, the general manager of the Dominican Republic team, announced that Rojas will not report to the team “for personal reasons,” Enrique Rojas of ESPN wrote on his X account on March 2.
Reports of Rojas’ absence began to circulate on social media on March 2.
More news: MLB Team Defends Hiring Broadcaster Who Used Racist Slur on Air
Lawyer Mixael Antonio Rosa was the first to report the news on his X account.
Wilber Sanchez reported on X on March 2 that Rojas tested positive for a banned drug, rendering him ineligible to participate in the 2026 WBC.
If Rojas were to be banned from the WBC for performance-enhancing drug use, a positive test for the same drug could lead to discipline under the MLB/MLBPA joint performance-enhancing drug policy.
More news: Former World Series Outfielder, 6-Year MLB Veteran, Dies
However, neither the Phillies nor MLB has made any announcements regarding Rojas’ status — either for the WBC or for the MLB regular season.
Some drugs of abuse, such as marijuana, could draw a suspension for the tournament for the WBC but not by Major League Baseball, which treats them differently from performance-enhancing drugs.
Rojas, a veteran of three seasons in the Phillies’ outfield, was worth 5 Outs Above Average in the Phillies’ outfield despite playing just 71 games. He slashed .224/.280/.289 in 172 plate appearances.
More news: Former Dodgers, Phillies Infielder Announces Retirement From Broadcasting
The Dominican Republic is scheduled to play Nicaragua Friday in Miami to kick off the 12-day tournament. The Dominicans are among a small handful of favorites to win the international tournament, having previously won in 2013.
Losing Rojas for the tournament — regardless of the reason — is an obvious setback. Junior Lake, 35, hasn’t played an inning at the major league level since 2016.
More news: Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman Hints at Retirement Timeline
Lake was likely chosen for his prowess in the most recent Dominican Winter League season, when he slashed .281/.374/.389 for Escogido in 45 games.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.