PCL1 Omaha Storm Chasers

De La Rosa Dealt To Rockies

Published on May 1, 2008 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Omaha Storm Chasers News Release


OMAHA, NE - When Omaha's season opened on April 3rd, the Royals were overstocked with six starting pitchers. Three of those pitchers are no longer with Omaha - and two of them are not even with Kansas City's organization - following Kansas City's trade yesterday with Colorado, which sent one of the Pacific Coast League's top pitchers, Jorge De La Rosa, to the Rockies.

In the deal, the Rockies get the 27-year old lefty from Nuevo Leon, Mexico and cash, while the Royals will receive a player to be named. De La Rosa had been rumored to be the player to be named in the earlier deal that brought reliever Ramon Ramirez from Colorado to Kansas City, but the Royals said there was no connection between that trade and this one. Since De La Rosa was not on Kansas City's 40-man roster, he was officially assigned to Triple-A Colorado Springs. But, he's expected to be called up by the Rockies to start Saturday at Coors Field vs. the Los Angeles Dodgers, who are scheduled to start one of De La Rosa's countrymen, Esteban Loaiza.

In four starts with Omaha this season, De La Rosa was 3-0 and his 1.64 ERA ranks third in the PCL. In 22.0 innings, he allowed 18 hits and just seven walks, while striking out 23 batters. On April 21st, De La Rosa was named as the PCL's Pitcher of the Week, becoming the first Omaha pitcher to earn that honor since 2002. During the week of April 14-20, he won both of his starts and posted a 0.81 ERA in the process. He was the first O-Royals hurler to garner the weekly award since July 14, 2002, when Brett Laxton did so.

During his stay with Omaha, De La Rosa said he benefited from the help of veteran pitching coach Tom Burgmeier. De La Rosa pitched for Kansas City in each of the past two seasons, going 11-16 with a 5.64 ERA in 36 games (33 starts), after being acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers on July 26, 2006 in exchange for infielder Tony Graffanino. De La Rosa was designated for assignment by Kansas City on March 26 of this year, towards the end of Spring Training.

In addition to De La Rosa, Omaha's original 2008 starting rotation has lost right-hander Luke Hochever and lefty Mike Maroth. Hochevar was recalled by Kansas City on April 20th, after he went 1-1 with a 2.60 ERA in three Triple-A starts. In two starts with KC since his promotion, Hochevar is 1-1 with a 5.91 ERA. Maroth was released by Kansas City this week, after going 0-2 with a 12.91 ERA in three outings with Omaha and spending a week-and-a-half on the disabled list with a sore left shoulder. Also, right-hander Joel Peralta was recalled by the big league Royals on April 18, after he was 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA (0 R over 10.0 IP) in four relief appearances with Omaha.

Taking De La Rosa's spot in Omaha's rotation is right-hander Jeff Fulchino (0-0, 3.72 ERA, 1 save), who is expected to make his first start after five relief outings on Friday night at Fresno. Taking Maroth's place and expected to start in the second game of the Fresno series on Saturday night is right-hander Brandon Duckworth, who is 1-1 with a 3.92 ERA after six relief appearances for Omaha.

For more information, contact Kevin McNabb, Royals Director of Media Relations, at (402) 738-5103.

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Pacific Coast League Stories from May 1, 2008


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