Jorge De La Rosa underwent Tommy John surgery on his left (throwing) elbow in June 2011.  Twenty months later, and despite an ugly 4-inch scar, the elbow has healed completely.  Now is the time the 31-year-old must show he has overcome the mental uncertainties that come with the surgery.


"When I got this injury, everything changed a little bit in my mind," De La Rosa said Monday. "I got a little bit scared to throw the ball, to be honest" The Monterrey, Mexico native spent the winter in Scottsdale, adhering to a strict throwing program to build up arm strength.  By November, the progress was palpable. "I threw, like normal, with no pain," he said. "I was able to throw my breaking ball. It had been a long time since I threw without pain. It was nice."

The Denver Posts' Patrick Saunders reports that now Jorge is fine physically.  "Perfect, no pain" is how De La Rosa described himself.



The Rockies are counting on the former sixteen-game winner to make the front end of the starting rotation. They have penciled him in at the number two spot.  Manager Walt Weiss said. "We all know the type of arm he has. It's electric stuff. But the fact is he hasn't been out there a lot in the year and a half. There's going to be a period to get him back on track. We are really counting on him to be a top-of-the-rotation guy."