Red Sox Recall Rubby De La Rosa, Option Pedro Beato

The Red Sox will have a new arm in the bullpen for tonight’s game against the Diamondbacks and it will be one of their most highly touted youngsters: Rubby De La Rosa. De La Rosa was acquired from the Dodgers in “The Deal” last August and was somewhat curiously called up. Now, I’m all for giving the young players a chance to succeed at the major league level but De La Rosa has been going through some major struggles lately as he had a 9.28 ERA and averaged 7.17 walks per nine innings in July, while Pedro Beato had a 3.12 ERA in 8.2 innings of relief for the Red Sox.

Feb 17, 2013; Fort Myers FL, USA; Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (62) poses during photo day at JetBlue Park. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

However, as a whole, his first season in the Red Sox organization has been impressive. Though his statistics were much more impressive before July, there’s nothing wrong with a 4.23 ERA and 8.69 K/9 on the season. His issues seem to step primarily from fatigue, as he is coming off Tommy John surgery and, though the Red Sox have eased him along, there are bound to be struggles after virtually no pitching in 2012.

Those fatigue struggles have severely affected his control, but perhaps the Red Sox think that he can relocate his dominant stuff in shorter outings. With the Boston bullpen in a bit of disarray, he may as well figure that out in the majors. It is a questionable move, no doubt, but it will be exciting to see one of the major returns of that trade in the major leagues.