Johan Rojas

Johan Stiven Rojas

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 165 lb.

• Debut July 15, 2023

• Born August 14, 2000 in San Francisco de Macoris, Duarte D.R.

BR page

Biographical Information

Outfielder Johan Rojas made his major league debut with the Philadelphia Phillies near the mid-way point of the 2023 season, but his parents did not get to see him play in person until the end of September. They had to travel from his native Dominican Republic to do so, having never attended one of their son's games since he had moved to the U.S.-based minor leagues. In a story worthy of Hollywood, their timing was impeccable. On September 26th, Rojas hit a game-ending single in the 10th inning to not only give the Phils a 7-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, but also to clinch a spot for them in the 2023 Postseason. It was a good first season as he finished at .302 in 59 games, with 2 homers and 23 RBIs, for an OPS+ of 110. He played regularly in the postseason, but only went 4 for 43 as the Phillies were eliminated at the NLCS stage.

The Phillies were looking to Rojas as their centerfielder for the long term when the 2024 season started, but while his fielding was good, his bat was a big disappointment, as he fell to .243 in 120 games, with 3 homers and 32 RBIs, for an OPS+ of just 67. He was no longer a full-time starter in the postseason, going 1 for 5 as the Phils lost to the New York Mets in the Division Series. Tings then continued to roll downhill in 2025, as he hit just .224 in 71 games, with 1 homer and 18 RBIs. By now, his main job was a defensive replacement, as he started just 46 games in center field and had only 152 at-bats. His OPS+ also fell from its low level of the previous season, to just 57. He did not appear in the 2025 Postseason as the Phillies made another quick exit. He hadn't hit rock bottom yet, however. On March 16, 2026, he was handed an 80-game suspension for a testing positive for a banned substance, then while gearing up to return to the field in June, he sustained an elbow injury that required the surgical implantation of an internal brace, costing him the remainder of the season. The timing could not have been worst, as it coincided with the Phils losing starting RF Adolis Garcia for an extended period, leaving the team short of experienced fly-chasers.

Further Reading

• Todd Zolecki: "Walk-off clinch extra special for Rojas with parents on hand: More from day after Phillies secured their spot in National League Wild Card Series", mlb.com, September 27, 2023. [1]
• Todd Zolecki: "Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas suspended 80 games following positive test", mlb.com, March 16, 2026. [2]

Related Sites

• Johan Rojas on mlb.com