BA on Wilkins de la Rosa

[Rangers]

N.Y. is pleased with lefty Wilkins de la Rossa's conversion

By George King
October 30, 2008

NEW YORK–It might make for a better scouting story if the Yankees believed Wilkins de la Rossa's left arm was too good to be wasted in center field and would make him an effective pitcher.

Yet it was de la Rossa's weak bat that put him on the mound. And the Yankees couldn't care less how the 23-year-old from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, got to the hill. All they know is that he has pitched well enough to reach high Class A in his first full year on the mound.

"He has been good. There have been no injuries that conversion guys have," farm director Mark Newman said. "He throws easy. When you see him he looks like a pitcher."

De la Rossa batted just .224/.353/.285 in five years as a position player, topping out at low Class A Charleston in 2006. He converted to a pitcher in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 2007.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound lefthander improved so much in 2008 that the Yankees will add his 94-95 mph fastball and outstanding changeup to their 40-man roster. His breaking ball remains a work in progress.

"If he makes the same kind of improvement in 2009 that he made this year he will be close (to the big leagues)," Newman said. "He could come fast because of his stuff and he has a good delivery."

Even though he went 9-4, 2.11 in 32 Class A games (11 starts), de la Rossa has room to improve. In 106 innings, he notched an impressive 125 strikeouts but also walked 44.

De la Rossa likely will start the 2009 season in Double-A Trenton, but his role has yet to be determined.

"He has a changeup, so he could start," Newman said. "With three pitches it could go either way."


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