Jorge de la Rosa

Jorge Alberto de la Rosa Gonzalez (born April 5, 1981) is a Mexican former professional baseball pitcher who appeared in the major leagues for the Milwaukee Brewers, Kansas City Royals, Colorado Rockies, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Chicago Cubs.

De la Rosa began his professional career when the Arizona Diamondbacks signed him as an amateur free agent in March 1998. Two years later, his contract was bought by the Monterrey Sultanes of the Mexican League, where he made 37 relief appearances, going 3–2 with a 6.28 ERA. The Boston Red Sox purchased his contract in February 2001, and he spent the next three seasons climbing their minor-league system, pitching at High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A. He was selected for the All-Star Futures Game in both 2002 and 2003.

After the 2003 season, de la Rosa was traded twice in one week. First, he went from the Red Sox back to the Diamondbacks as part of the package for Curt Schilling. Then, just days later, Arizona sent him to the Milwaukee Brewers in a multi-player deal for Richie Sexson. He began 2004 at Triple-A Indianapolis.

De la Rosa made his MLB debut on August 14, 2004, for the Brewers, taking a loss against the Florida Marlins. He made five starts that season, going 0–3 with a 6.35 ERA. In 2005, he split time between the minors and the Brewers’ bullpen, appearing in 38 games and posting a 2–2 record. When injuries opened a spot in the rotation, he made three starts, going 0–2 with a 12.27 ERA before a blister on his finger landed him on the disabled list. His ERA for the season was 8.60 over 30 innings.

In July 2006, the Brewers traded de la Rosa to the Kansas City Royals for Tony Graffanino. He won his first start for Kansas City, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs. He finished the year with a 3–4 record in 10 starts. The 2007 season was his first full year in the majors; he made 23 starts for the Royals, going 8–12 with a 5.82 ERA in 130 innings.

On April 30, 2008, de la Rosa was traded to the Colorado Rockies to complete an earlier deal. That season, he won 10 games for the first time in his career and lowered his ERA to 4.92, again pitching 130 innings. The 2009 season was his best. After an 0–6 start, he won 16 games from June 5 onward—the most in the majors during that stretch—and helped the Rockies secure the NL Wild Card. A strained left groin in his final start kept him out of the postseason. He finished 2009 with a 16–9 record, a 4.38 ERA, and 193 strikeouts; his 16 wins ranked third in the National League.

In 2010, de la Rosa began 3–1 with a 3.91 ERA before a torn flexor tendon band in his middle finger sidelined him for over two months. He returned in July and finished 8–7 with a 4.22 ERA and 113 strikeouts. After the season, he became a free agent but re-signed with the Rockies on a two-year, $21.5 million contract that included an $11 million player option for 2014.

He won his first four decisions in April 2011, but on May 24 he suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery. He had a 5–2 record in 10 starts at the time. He returned near the end of 2012, making three short starts and going 0–2.

In 2013, despite a lower strikeout rate, de la Rosa tied his career high with 16 wins and posted a career-low 3.49 ERA over 30 starts. The next season, he went 14–11 with a 4.10 ERA and allowed 21 home runs. After the season, he signed a two-year, $25 million extension.

On June 14, 2015, de la Rosa became the Rockies’ all-time wins leader with his 73rd victory for the franchise. He also set the franchise strikeout record, later broken by Germán Márquez. He finished 2015 at 9–7 with a 4.17 ERA in 149 innings. In 2016, he went 8–9 with a 5.51 ERA in 134 innings and became a free agent afterward. His .585 winning percentage is a Rockies franchise record for pitchers with at least 50 starts, and he leads the team in walks (481) and wild pitches (70) while ranking second in innings pitched.

In February 2017, de la Rosa signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.