R. De La Rosa nearing return to mound

February 27th, 2017

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- said he plans on throwing off a mound in two weeks for the first time since last September.
De La Rosa missed most of 2016 with elbow issues and in an attempt to avoid having a second Tommy John surgery he has twice undergone stem-cell treatment.
"It feels 100 percent right now," De La Rosa said. "No soreness, no tightness. I think it's good."
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If healthy, the team plans to shift De La Rosa from a starter to a reliever, believing it will be less taxing on his elbow.
Worth noting
, who threw two scoreless innings in his first start of the spring Monday, could find himself in the bullpen if he doesn't win a spot in the Arizona rotation, but the lefty isn't focused strictly on starting.
"I haven't really thought [about it]," Corbin said. "I'm going in as a starter. I'm going to do this like I would in the regular season. I'll throw my bullpen in a couple of days and prepare for another start. Just try to build up my pitch count."
• Third baseman was scratched from the lineup and was not in camp after coming down with the stomach flu Sunday night.
• Manager Torey Lovullo said that reliever also had the stomach flu and had spent the past two nights in the hospital receiving fluids to get rehydrated. He is expected to be back in camp Tuesday.