Rockies Lefty Out for Season

Though the Rockies were able to get the win in yesterday’s opener against the Diamondbacks, their rotation took a loss.  The club has announced that starter Jorge de la Rosa will be out for the remainder of the season with an elbow injury.

De La Rosa left yesterday’s contest after only 2.1 innings after experiencing tightness in his elbow.  The team could tell something was wrong with the lefty as the third inning progressed.

Just believing it was tightness, De La Rosa hoped to continue pitching.  Manager Jim Tracy allowed his starter another practice toss before shutting him down.

"“He said let me keep pitching. OK, let’s throw a pitch and see what it looks like,” Tracy recounted. “Well, I was watching very closely when he threw it and all I had to see was the expression on his face when he turned the ball loose and I said, ‘That’s all.”"

It was later determined that De La Rosa sustained a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow.  The injury will lead to Tommy John surgery which generally sidelines pitchers for 12 months.

This is more bad news for a rotation already without starters Aaron Cook and Esmil Rogers.  The good news for the club is that Cook is closing in on a return to the majors, as he is finishing his rehab stint.

De La Rosa and the 23 year old Jhoulys Chacin have been de facto aces for Colorado this season, with former Cy Young candidate Ubaldo Jimenez’s early season struggles.

The team will look for a continued contribution from their young arms Greg Reynolds and Clayton Mortensen, and hope Cook can provide the rotation some stability upon his return.