As the Baltimore Orioles continue to grind toward a postseason spot, some recent prospect news has made things a little more interesting.
Left-handed starter Luis De León, The Baltimore Battery’s 14th-ranked prospect, is reportedly beginning to have his appearances shortened as the organization prepares him for a potential bullpen role in September.
So, who exactly is Luis De León, and what could he bring to Baltimore’s bullpen?
The Rise of De León
De León signed with the Orioles in December 2021, falling between two impressive international signing classes headlined by Samuel Basallo in 2021 and Aron Estrada in 2022.
Despite not receiving the same attention, De León made an immediate impact. In 2022, he debuted in the Dominican Summer League and struck out 45 batters in 28 innings while holding opponents to a .165 average.
His rise continued the following season. After dominating the Florida Complex League with a 1.54 ERA in five starts, De León earned a promotion to Low-A Delmarva, where he finished his time as a Shorebird with a 2.39 ERA.
His transition to High-A Aberdeen in 2024 was more difficult, as De León posted a 5.73 ERA across 19 appearances and walked 42 batters, though he still recorded 106 strikeouts.
He bounced back in 2025, pitching to a 3.30 ERA across three levels, while setting a career-high at the time with 107 strikeouts. His season included South Atlantic League Pitcher of the Week honors, a trip to the Arizona Fall League and a selection to the Rising Stars team.
The Numbers Do Not Tell the Whole Story
De León has posted a 4.53 ERA in 24 appearances this season between Double-A Chesapeake and Triple-A Norfolk, and control issues have shown, as the Dominican native has set a career-high with 52 walks.
However, De León has also struck out a career-high 118 batters, and the expected numbers suggest he has been extremely unlucky in his 97.1 innings of work.
Since joining Norfolk, opponents have hit .308 against him despite a .226 expected batting average. His .379 wOBA also comes with a much lower .284 xwOBA.
The walks are definitely a concern, but De León continues to show elite swing-and-miss ability.
Why the Bullpen?
The Orioles might simply need him there.
Baltimore has used six left-handers out of the bullpen this season, and they have combined for a 4.67 ERA across 102.2 innings.
The club has struggled to find a consistent left-handed relief option, and De León could provide a fresh arm with strikeout stuff down the stretch.
At just 23 years old, there is still plenty of time to develop De León as a starter. But shortening his outings could allow his stuff to play up in the bullpen while giving the Orioles another left-handed option for September.
If Baltimore needs help from an unexpected place during the postseason push, Luis De León could be an intriguing name to watch.
What are your thoughts on Luis De León and the potential of having him in the O’s bullpen this September? Let us know in the comments below! Make sure to follow The Baltimore Battery on Facebook, X, Bluesky and TikTok, and use the hashtag #baltimorebattery when sharing our content!
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