Francisco de la Rosa
Encyclopedia
Francisco de la Rosa Jiménez (March 3, 1966 January 6, 2011) was a professional baseball
pitcher
. He made two appearances in Major League Baseball
with the Baltimore Orioles
during the 1991 season. Listed at 5' 11", 185 lbs., he threw right-handed.
Born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, he developed as a ballplayer around the San Pedro de Macoris
area, a hotbed of future major league talent at the time. He signed with Toronto Blue Jays
scout
Epy Guerrero
in 1985, and spent one season with the GCL Blue Jays, in which he went 0-1 with a 5.52 earned run average
in 16 relief appearances, before being released by Toronto.
De la Rosa joined the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1988, and went 3-4 with a 4.61 ERA for the Hagerstown Suns
of the Carolina League
. Though he had been used primarily as a reliever
, he was converted to a starter
with Hagerstown in 1990, now of the double A Eastern League. In that role, De la Rosa was 9-5 with a 2.06 ERA.
After compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.67 ERA for the triple A Rochester Red Wings
in 1991, De la Rosa received a September call-up to the Orioles, making his major league debut on September 7 against the Kansas City Royals
. Inheriting a bases loaded, two out situation, he retired Bill Pecota
on a fly ball to left to end the eighth inning. He then loaded the bases himself in the ninth before escaping the inning without giving up a run.
De la Rosa's next appearance came a month later against the New York Yankees
. Entering the game with the Yankees having already scored five runs in the third inning, De la Rosa recorded the final two outs of the inning without giving up another run. He pitched a perfect fourth before the Yankees got to him for three runs in the fifth.
Prior to the start of the 1992 season, the Orioles sent De la Rosa to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal in which they acquired Alan Mills
for a player to be named later. In two seasons with the Yankees' triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
, De la Rosa was 7-2 with a 4.93 ERA.
De la Rosa pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals
' Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Redbirds in 1995, and the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks of the independent Northern League in 1996. He also played for a long time with the Estrellas Orientales
of the Dominican Winter Baseball League, earning the nickname "Tiger Tamer" for his performance against the Licey Tigers.
De la Rosa continued to pitch in independent leagues in New York
and Philadelphia before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where he lived with his brothers until his death at 44.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
pitcher
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
. He made two appearances in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
with the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
during the 1991 season. Listed at 5' 11", 185 lbs., he threw right-handed.
Born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, he developed as a ballplayer around the San Pedro de Macoris
San Pedro de Macorís
San Pedro de Macorís is a municipality and the capital of the San Pedro de Macorís province in the Dominican Republic.-Demographics:...
area, a hotbed of future major league talent at the time. He signed with Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
Epy Guerrero
Epy Guerrero
Epifanio Guerrero is a baseball scout in the Dominican Republic who has signed more than 40 Major League Baseball players for the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays and Milwaukee Brewers. Epy is the brother of former shortstop Mario Guerrero, and has two sons, Epy Jr...
in 1985, and spent one season with the GCL Blue Jays, in which he went 0-1 with a 5.52 earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
in 16 relief appearances, before being released by Toronto.
De la Rosa joined the Baltimore Orioles organization in 1988, and went 3-4 with a 4.61 ERA for the Hagerstown Suns
Hagerstown Suns
The Hagerstown Suns are a Minor League Baseball team based in Hagerstown, Maryland, United States. They play in Municipal Stadium, which was opened in 1930 and seats 4,600 fans....
of the Carolina League
Carolina League
The Carolina League is a minor league baseball affiliation which operates in the South Atlantic Coast of the United States. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...
. Though he had been used primarily as a reliever
Relief pitcher
A relief pitcher or reliever is a baseball or softball pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed due to injury, ineffectiveness, fatigue, ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as being substituted by a pinch hitter...
, he was converted to a starter
Starting pitcher
In baseball or softball, a starting pitcher is the pitcher who delivers the first pitch to the first batter of a game. A pitcher who enters the game after the first pitch of the game is a relief pitcher....
with Hagerstown in 1990, now of the double A Eastern League. In that role, De la Rosa was 9-5 with a 2.06 ERA.
After compiling a 4-1 record with a 2.67 ERA for the triple A Rochester Red Wings
Rochester Red Wings
The Rochester Red Wings are a minor league baseball team based in Rochester, New York. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins major-league club. The Red Wings play in Frontier Field, located in downtown Rochester.The Red Wings were an...
in 1991, De la Rosa received a September call-up to the Orioles, making his major league debut on September 7 against the Kansas City Royals
Kansas City Royals
The Kansas City Royals are a Major League Baseball team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From 1973 to the present, the Royals have played in Kauffman Stadium...
. Inheriting a bases loaded, two out situation, he retired Bill Pecota
Bill Pecota
William Joseph Pecota , is a former professional baseball player who played infield in the Major Leagues from 1986-94. Pecota was drafted by the Royals in the 10th round of 1981 amateur draft after playing at DeAnza College in Cupertino, CA, and debuted in Kansas City in 1986...
on a fly ball to left to end the eighth inning. He then loaded the bases himself in the ninth before escaping the inning without giving up a run.
De la Rosa's next appearance came a month later against the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. Entering the game with the Yankees having already scored five runs in the third inning, De la Rosa recorded the final two outs of the inning without giving up another run. He pitched a perfect fourth before the Yankees got to him for three runs in the fifth.
Prior to the start of the 1992 season, the Orioles sent De la Rosa to the Yankees to complete an earlier deal in which they acquired Alan Mills
Alan Mills (baseball)
Alan Bernard Mills is a former Major League Baseball relief pitcher. He batted and threw right-handed.-Early years:Mills was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the amateur draft, but did not sign...
for a player to be named later. In two seasons with the Yankees' triple A affiliate, the Columbus Clippers
Columbus Clippers
The Columbus Clippers are a minor league baseball team based in Columbus, Ohio. The team plays in the International League and is the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians. The team is owned by the government of Franklin County, Ohio....
, De la Rosa was 7-2 with a 4.93 ERA.
De la Rosa pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
' Triple-A affiliate, the Louisville Redbirds in 1995, and the Thunder Bay Whiskey Jacks of the independent Northern League in 1996. He also played for a long time with the Estrellas Orientales
Estrellas Orientales
Estrellas Orientales is a baseball team in the Dominican Winter League. Based in San Pedro de Macorís, the team has historically struggled, winning championships only in 1954 and 1968.-Retired numbers:-Trivia:...
of the Dominican Winter Baseball League, earning the nickname "Tiger Tamer" for his performance against the Licey Tigers.
De la Rosa continued to pitch in independent leagues in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Philadelphia before moving to Baltimore, Maryland, where he lived with his brothers until his death at 44.