De La Rosa returns to mound in rehab start for Visalia
Sep 2, 2016, 8:20 AM
(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Rubby De La Rosa pitched in a real baseball game for the first time in a while when he took the mound for the Visalia Rawhide in a California League game.
De La Rosa had a light workload, pitching just one inning in Visalia’s 12-1 loss to the Stockton Ports.
The 27-year-old got Stockton leadoff hitter Arismendy Alcantara to fly out to center field to lead off the game. He then struck out Melvin Mercedes and John Nogowski to end the inning, and his night.
De La Rosa last pitched for the Diamondbacks on May 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was diagnosed with right elbow inflammation, but it was later determined after a consultation with Dr. James Andrews that he would not need a Tommy John surgery. De La Rosa did have the surgery back in 2011, when he was a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
This season, De La Rosa posted a 4-5 record and 4.15 ERA in 11 appearances (eight starts), striking out 49 in 47.2 innings while walking only 15. The Dominican native is in his second year with the Diamondbacks. He led the team with a team-high 14 wins and 150 strikeouts in 32 starts in 2015.