DENVER -- Rockies pitcher Jorge De La Rosa suffered a complete tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow during the team's 12-4 victory over the D-backs in the opener of Tuesday's doubleheader at Coors Field.
The Rockies announced that the next step is being discussed, but this likely means Tommy John ligament transfer surgery, thus the end of his season. Typically, recovery time is a full year.
De La Rosa (5-2, 3.51 ERA) had emerged as a candidate for his first trip to the All-Star Game. Although he was charged with two runs on three hits and two walks on Tuesday, De La Rosa struck out three and is tied with Jhoulys Chacin for the team strikeout lead with 52Share:
De La Rosa went 4-0 in five April starts, despite working around a blister issue with his left middle finger. He is 1-2 in May, but one of the losses was his first career complete game, when he gave up two runs, one earned, in a 2-1 loss to the Phillies last Wednesday. De La Rosa's work was one reason the Rockies have been able to stay above .500 despite inconsistent and often substandard offensive production.
After throwing a pitch to Chris Young with runners at second and third, De La Rosa motioned to the dugout for head athletic trainer Keith Dugger and manager Jim Tracy. De La Rosa threw a warmup pitch, winced and left the contest.
Right-hander Greg Reynolds, recently recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs, replaced De La Rosa. Although both of De La Rosa's runners and one other scored in the inning, Reynolds gave up three hits and one run, struck out two and pitched well enough for the victory.
De La Rosa was the Rockies' only lefty starter.
Three of the starters the Rockies were counting on this season are on the disabled list.
De La Rosa's injury comes just as veteran right-hander Aaron Cook, the former staff ace, nears a return after missing time because of a fractured right ring finger. Cook is scheduled to make his final injury rehab start on Saturday, for Triple-A Colorado Springs.
Righty Esmil Rogers (3-1, 7.66 ERA) also is on the disabled list with a right lat strain and has yet to begin a rehab assignment.
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