Johan Rojas Out for Season After Needing Elbow Surgery

TORONTO (AP) — The Philadelphia Phillies announced that outfielder Johan Rojas requires surgery to fix a torn ligament in his right elbow, which will keep him off the field until spring training. This update comes after Rojas experienced discomfort while preparing for his return from an 80-game suspension imposed in March due to a positive test for the banned substance Boldenone.

At 25 years old, Rojas was set to be eligible for reinstatement on June 25. Last season, he managed a batting average of .224, recording one home run, 18 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. However, his performance led to a demotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on August 1, preventing him from contributing to the Phillies for the remainder of the season.

Rojas participated in spring training this year but struggled, finishing with just three hits in 15 at-bats, along with one RBI. He was also expected to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, but he was removed from the roster prior to the tournament.

This situation marks a challenging period for Rojas as he aims to regain his health and return to competitive play.