Phillies' Johan Rojas gets brutal injury update amid return from suspension
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Phillies' Johan Rojas gets brutal injury update amid return from suspension originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The Philadelphia Phillies have seen a few of their players in recent years get suspended for 80 games, with Jose Alvarado suspended last season, and following the 2025 season, both Max Kepler and Johan Rojas were suspended by MLB.
While Alvarado is back and pitching for the Phillies, and Kepler recently signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Rojas got the worst update on the bunch by far.
As the Phillies announced on Wednesday, Rojas, amid his ramp-up to return to action following his 80-game suspension, was revealed to have a serious injury that will knock him out for the entire 2026 season.
Johan Rojas revealed to have a season-ending injury amid suspension
"Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas recently felt right medial elbow discomfort while ramping up baseball activities in preparation to return from his suspension. Evaluation and imaging revealed an ulnar collateral ligament tear that will require surgical repair with internal brace. The surgery will be scheduled in the next couple of weeks with the plan for Rojas to be ready to participate at spring training in 2027," the Phillies announced.
This is some huge news from the Phillies, as Rojas, just beginning to work his way back from his suspension that would last 80-games, is now out for the entire 2026 season.
The 25-year-old outfielder, who is an incredible defender and has some great speed, was going to miss the first 80 games this season at least, and also was not going to be postseason eligible.
So, the Phillies already planned to be without Rojas this October. But now, they won't have him for the second-half of the 2026 regular season as a bench option for pinch-running and late-game defensive substitutions.
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In his big-league career so far, Rojas has put up 3.4 bWAR, with 2.4 coming in his 2023 rookie season across just 59 games. He's posted just 1.0 bWAR in the 191 games he's played in 2024 and 2025 since his red-hot start.
He has a 75 OPS+ for his career, with a .569 OPS and 57 OPS+ last season being the worst offensive production of his short MLB stint.
Rojas wasn't much of a factor for the Phillies' plans this season, so losing him for all of 2026 isn't a massive loss. But it still stings not having an option like him to help close out the year.
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