Top five Red Sox players age 25 and under
By Conor Duffy
Jul 29, 2014; Boston, MA, USA; Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rubby De La Rosa (62) pitches during the first inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
5. Rubby De La Rosa, 25 years old
Acquired from the Dodgers in the mega-trade in 2012, featuring Adrian Gonzalez, Josh Beckett, and Carl Crawford, De La Rosa has finally joined the Red Sox rotation after two lost years following Tommy John Surgery. And while he hasn’t been spectacular this season, he has held his own through 16 starts in Boston. De La Rosa has posted a 4.01 ERA backed by a 4.28 FIP and 1.94 K/BB.
There are concerns over whether or not De La Rosa will be able to start in the long run, stemming from his lack of a reliable third pitch. However, at just 25 years old, there’s plenty of time for De La Rosa to develop a breaking ball to complement his strong fastball and change. Unless the Red Sox really go all out on the pitching front this offseason, expect De La Rosa to slot into the back of the Red Sox rotation come 2015.