U.S. Reporter Incorrectly Informs Dodgers’ Miguel Rojas About Taking a Bat

U.S. Reporter Apologizes for Misidentifying Dodgers’ Rojas in Drug Test Mix-Up

A prominent baseball reporter has issued a public apology after falsely claiming that Los Angeles Dodgers veteran infielder Miguel Rojas had tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.

Evan Drellich, a respected Major League Baseball reporter for The Athletic, posted the correction on his X account Tuesday, stating: “To Miguel Rojas and the Dodgers, I sincerely and publicly apologize. I’ve reached out to Miguel, the Dodgers and Miguel’s agent to say the same. Once again, I’m sorry.”

The incident stemmed from a case of mistaken identity when Drellich confused Miguel Rojas with Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Johan Rojas, who was recently suspended for 80 games after testing positive for boldenone, a banned substance that enhances athletic performance.

The error, though quickly corrected, caused significant distress for Miguel Rojas and the Dodgers organization. The 35-year-old infielder, who has built a reputation as a clubhouse leader and reliable veteran during his 11-year MLB career, expressed his frustration in an interview with Chris Rose Sports.

“He didn’t make a typo,” Rojas said, suggesting the mistake wasn’t merely accidental. “I did it with the intention of posting my name and the name of my club.”

The Venezuelan infielder further emphasized the impact of the misinformation: “A reporter made a ‘mistake’ and my whole world was shaken for a short period of six minutes, and I, my team, and many around the Dodgers were worried. You can’t even imagine how President Andrew Friedman felt.”

The incident highlights the significant consequences of reporting errors in today’s fast-paced digital media environment, particularly when they involve allegations of performance-enhancing drug use. For professional athletes, such accusations can damage reputations built over decades and potentially affect contract negotiations, endorsement deals, and Hall of Fame considerations.

The Dodgers, currently among the favorites to win the World Series after their championship last season, have relied on Rojas as a versatile defender and veteran presence. The team’s president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, was reportedly distressed by the false report before it was corrected.

This case underscores the heightened scrutiny around performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, which has implemented one of the most comprehensive testing programs in professional sports. Since the implementation of MLB’s Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in 2006, the league has worked to restore fan confidence following the “steroid era” of the late 1990s and early 2000s.

While Johan Rojas faces a substantial suspension that will sideline him for nearly half the season, Miguel Rojas continues his role with the Dodgers, where he has served as a utility infielder and mentor to younger players since joining the team in 2023.

Sports journalism ethics experts note that the incident serves as a cautionary tale about the responsibility reporters have when covering sensitive topics like drug testing. The immediacy of social media reporting has increased pressure on journalists to break news quickly, sometimes at the expense of thorough fact-checking.

“In cases involving a player’s reputation, double-checking information is absolutely critical,” said Dr. Marie Coleman, professor of sports media ethics at Columbia University. “A mistake like this can follow a player long after corrections are made, as search results and screenshots often persist online.”

Drellich, who has built a reputation for breaking major stories about MLB labor relations and the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal, will likely face increased scrutiny from readers and colleagues following the incident.

For Miguel Rojas, the public apology appears to have addressed his primary concern. “Mistakes are fine,” he had said before Drellich’s apology. “But in the end, I expected him to apologize.”