Franklin De La Rosa

Franklin De La Rosa

• Bats Right, Throws Left
• Height 6' 2", Weight 192 lb.

• Born March 14, 1993 in Saint-Martin France

Biographical Information

Franklin De La Rosa has pitched in France and Italy and for the French national team.

De La Rosa worked out at a baseball academy in the Dominican Republic but did not get signed by a MLB team; instead, the Rouen Huskies signed him on the advice of Rene Leveret. He barely pitched for Rouen in 2018, though (2 R, 7 BB, 5 K in 2 2/3 IP). He was active with another French squad, the La Rochelle Boucaniers. He was their second-best hitter (.355/.423/.403, 14 R in 18 G, 7 SB, 0 CS) but struggled on the hill (1-3, 9.17). He struck out 41 in 35 1/3 IP but walked 50. Only two qualifiers in the French Division I had higher ERAs and he led the league in walks by 10. His 19 wild pitches were more than double anyone else's but he made the top 10 in whiffs.

For 2019, he moved to Grosseto in the Italian minors, Serie A2. He pitched better (9 BB, 12 K in 12 IP; 3.75) but didn't hit as well (.222/.371/.259, 7 BB in 9 G). Given his track record in France, his inclusion for France's entry in the 2019 European Championship would seem a surprise. He did just fine in his two games, though. Against Austria, he relieved Dan Camou in the 9th with a 12-6 lead. He allowed a single to Moritz Scheicher but got Tobias Schermer on a grounder and whiffed Samuel Hackl and Benjamin Salzmann. Versus Israel, he wrapped up a loss, relieving Yoann Vaugelade with a 7-2 deficit in the bottom of the 7th, two outs and the bases loaded, not a good situation for a wild hurler. He walked Robb Paller to force in a run but got Zach Penprase to hit into a force to end it. In the 8th, he allowed a Jeremy Wolf double but struck out former major leaguer Ty Kelly, got Blake Gailen swinging for his 4th K and retired former big league starter Danny Valencia. For the 2019 Euros, only Lilian Amoros worked more innings for France without being charged with a run.