Diamondbacks shut down pitcher Rubby De La Rosa
Sep 15, 2016, 9:41 PM | Updated: Sep 16, 2016, 2:58 pm
Arizona Diamondbacks' Rubby De La Rosa (12) waits for a new baseball after giving up a home run to Colorado Rockies' Charlie Blackmon, left, during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced Thursday they are shutting down starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa after two pinch-count restricted starts following a stint on the disabled list, manager Chip Hale told the media.
De La Rosa, who played in just 13 games this season due to elbow soreness, went two innings in his first game back, allowing one earned run and walking two with three strikeouts. He pitched one inning and allowed two hits and one run with three walks and two strikeouts on Wednesday against a Rockies.
“We’re going to have him throw some sides, maybe have some simulated games,” Hale told the media after Arizona’s 7-3 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. “Health-wise (he) feels good. We just don’t feel like he’s ready to compete out there.”
Hale added that De La Rosa’s command wasn’t where the team wanted it to be.
De La Rosa threw 50.2 innings for the season and closes 2016 with a 4.26 ERA and a 4-5 record. A season prior, the 27-year-old right-hander led the team in wins, compiling a 14-9 record.
The Diamondbacks and Hale have said the team will possibly discuss De La Rosa coming out of the bullpen heading into next season, but much is unclear with starters like Shelby Miller and Patrick Corbin struggling throughout 2016, plus young pitchers Archie Bradley and Braden Shipley in the competition to win starting spots in 2017.
