Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas is set to undergo season-ending internal brace surgery to repair a tear in his right UCL, the club announced Wednesday. The surgery will be scheduled in “the next couple of weeks,” putting him on track to participate in 2027 Spring Training.
Rojas, 25, was already serving an 80-game suspension without pay after testing positive for Boldenone, a performance-enhancing substance, in violation of the league's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The suspension began at the beginning of the 2026 season and would have held Rojas out of Postseason play.
The Phillies said Rojas felt “right medial elbow discomfort” while ramping up activity to eventually return from suspension. Evaluation and imaging revealed the tear.
Rojas’s suspension this spring put a dent in Philadelphia’s outfield plans, when he was penciled in as the de facto fifth outfielder despite being likely to miss the Opening Day roster. He appeared in 71 games in 2025, playing strong defense but struggling at the plate. Rojas hit .224 with a .569 OPS last season.
The Phillies’ outfield has primarily consisted of Justin Crawford, Brandon Marsh and Adolis García all season, with a rotating cast serving as depth when necessary.