Jorge de la Rosa

Jorge de la Rosa
Colorado Rockies – No. 29
Starting pitcher
Born: (1981-04-05) 5 April 1981 Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Bats: left	Throws: left
MLB debut
14 August, 2004 for the Milwaukee Brewers
Career statistics (through May 22, 2013)
Win-loss record	60–54
Earned run average	4.86
Strikeouts	722
Teams
Milwaukee Brewers (2004–2006) Kansas City Royals (2006–2007) Colorado Rockies (2008–present)

Jorge Alberto de la Rosa Gonzalez (born April 5, 1981) is a starting pitcher for the Colorado Rockies.

Professional career

Minor leagues

De la Rosa was signed as an amateur free agent by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1998. He was purchased by the Monterrey Sultanes of the Mexican League prior to the 2000 season. The Boston Red Sox purchased de la Rosa from Monterrey prior to the 2001 season.

In November 2003 season, the Red Sox traded de la Rosa with Casey Fossum, Brandon Lyon and Michael Goss to the Diamondbacks for Curt Schilling. The Diamondbacks traded him in December 2003 with Chris Capuano, Craig Counsell, Chad Moeller, Lyle Overbay and Junior Spivey to the Milwaukee Brewers for a Richie Sexson, Shane Nance and player to be named later (minor leaguer Noochie Varner).

Milwaukee Brewers

De la Rosa made his MLB debut on August 14, 2004, for the Milwaukee Brewers.

During the 2006 season, Brewers starting pitchers Ben Sheets, Tomo Ohka, and long relief man Rick Helling were injured, leaving the fifth spot open. The Brewers inserted de la Rosa in the starting role after an unsuccessful stint with Dana Eveland. In 3 starts, he went 0–2 with a 12.27 ERA. In his third start, he was removed because of blisters on his finger. He was then placed on the 15-day DL.

Kansas City Royals

De la Rosa was traded to the Kansas City Royals for Tony Graffanino during the 2006 season. In his first start for the Kansas City Royals, he pitched six innings allowing two earned runs and getting the win.

Colorado Rockies

On April 30, 2008, he was sent to the Colorado Rockies, completing the earlier trade that sent pitcher Ramón Ramírez to the Royals.

De la Rosa struggled during the first half of the 2009 season, going 0–6 in his first 10 starts. However after June 1, de la Rosa was one of the best pitchers in baseball. De la Rosa would go on to win 16 games for the Rockies, and helped the Rockies clinch the NL wildcard with his second-half performance. On October 4 while pitching against the Los Angeles Dodgers, de la Rosa suffered a strained left groin and left the game. De la Rosa would go on to miss the NLDS against the Phillies. De la Rosa had the best season of his career in 2009 going 16–9 with a 4.38 ERA, and 193 strikeouts. De la Rosa's 16 wins ranked him 3rd in the NL in 2009.

De la Rosa started the 2010 season going 3–1, 3.91 ERA, 26 K in 23 IP before suffering a torn flexor tendon band in his left finger which put de la Rosa on the DL for the next 2 months. He returned in July from the DL and finished the season going 8–7, 4.22 ERA, and 113 K in 121.2 IP.

De la Rosa became a free agent at the end of the 2010 season. He signed a two-year contract with a player option for a third year to remain with the Rockies.

On May 24, 2011, de la Rosa suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, requiring Tommy John ligament transfer surgery, thus the end of his season. He had posted a record of 4-0 in April, and had a 1–2 May, before the injury.

International career

De la Rosa played for the Mexican team during the 2006 World Baseball Classic.

External links

• Career statistics and player information from MLB, or ESPN, or Baseball-Reference, or Fangraphs, or The Baseball Cube, or Baseball-Reference (Minors)
• Player Page at Brew Crew Ball