TUCSON — Jorge De La Rosa chose team over country today, squashing any chance he will participate in the World Baseball Classic for Mexico.
“I wanted to play, but I wouldn’t get the same work in if I stay here in camp,” De La Rosa said at Hi Corbett Field. “I need to stay here.”
De La Rosa had not planned on playing on this winter, instead focusing on securing his rotation spot. But circumstances changed with Jeff Francis’ shoulder injury that will likely require surgery for a torn labrum flap.
De La Rosa moved from the fifth to the fourth spot in the rotation, leaving him tempted to pitch for Mexican manager Vinny Castilla in the WBC. Castilla called and recruited De La Rosa, but today the left-hander decided against it after those close to him urged him to stay with the Rockies.
De La Rosa was 10-8 with a 4.92 ERA last season, but went 7-3 with a 3.08 after the All-Star break. He has never pitched more than 130 innings in a single season, and leaving spring training could prevent him from the carrying what he plans to be the biggest workload of his career.
“This is what is best for me,” De La Rosa said.
Footnotes. Reliever Taylor Buchholz has been bothered by back pain, but said he was feeling better today and doesn’t expect to miss any time. Alan Embree joked he received his tour card so he was exempt from Monday’s timed pitchers’ run. He performed a speed test on a stationary bike instead. Turns out Embree fractured his neck as a child, and the jarring from running causes intense pain and headaches. Outfielder Ryan Spilborghs arrived in Tucson on Monday afternoon, tired from the drive from Denver. And, yes, the charismatic outfielder brought his pet bulldog Gibson to Tucson.
Troy E. Renck: 303-954-1301 or trenck@denverpost.com.
