Gilbert de la Vara

Gilbert A. De La Vara

• Bats Left, Throws Left
• Height 5' 10", Weight 160 lb.
• School Pima Community College
• High School Flowing Wells High School

• Born October 4, 1984 in Tucson, AZ USA

BR minors page

Biographical Information

Gilbert de la Vara reached AA in 2007.

De la Vara was picked in the 15th round of the 2004 amateur draft by the Kansas City Royals. A draft-and-follow pick, he starred at junior college in 2005, leading all Arizona Junior College hurlers in ERA (1.28) and strikeouts (109). He was then signed by scout Mike Brown and made his pro debut with the AZL Royals, going 4-1 with 3 saves and a 2.33 ERA, fanning 43 in 38 2/3 IP.

Gilbert was the second-youngest member of Team USA in the 2005 Baseball World Cup; only Lastings Milledge was younger. The southpaw allowed one run in 1 2/3 IP in the Cup over two appearances; he saved the US win over Taiwan.

In 2006, the Arizona native split time between the Burlington Royals (4-4, 9 Sv, 3.38 in 27 G, 35 H, 12 BB, 64 K in 50 2/3 IP) and the High Desert Mavericks (0-5, 4 Sv, 5.61). He was a mid-season Midwest League All-Star. De la Vara split 2007 between the Wilmington Blue Rocks (2-1, 7 Sv, 0.82, .180 opponent average) and the Wichita Wranglers (3-2, Sv, 5.74, .306 opponent average). He was in the California/Carolina League All-Star Game that year.

Gilbert split 2008 between Wilmington (3-3, 2 Sv, 3.65, .217 average in 24 G) and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3-0, 2 Sv, 2.76, .205 average in 21 G).

Sources

• 2008 Royals Media Guide
• 2007-2009 Baseball Almanacs
• Defunct IBAF site