Rockies left-hander Jorge De La Rosa underwent Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery back in early June. He’s made good progress thus far and has managed to avoid setbacks, so the Rockies’ medical staff has cleared him to take a major step.
According to Jim Armstrong of the Denver Post, De La Rosa will begin a throwing program on September 23. He’ll be limited to light games of catch initially, but the 30-year-old southpaw should begin throwing bullpen sessions by the middle of winter and could be ready to appear in simulated games by the start of the 2012 regular season.
De La Rosa posted a 3.51 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 52/22 K/BB ratio in 19 starts this season before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament. If he returns in 2012, it won’t happen until the middle of the summer.