The Dodgers are set to promote highly-rated pitching prospect Jose De Leon, according to reports from MLB.com’s Bill Shaikin (via Twitter) as well as Robert Murray and Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (Twitter links). He is expected to take the ball on Sunday.
The 24-year-old came into the year with top-fifty overall prospect billing. Though he was handled cautiously early due to some health concerns, De Leon has done nothing but boost his stock since resuming action.
Over his 86 1/3 Triple-A frames thus far, the youngster has compiled a 2.61 ERA with 11.6 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 while allowing only 61 base hits. The dominant showing represents the culmination of a remarkable developmental path.
A 24th-round draft pick out of Southern University and A&M College, De Leon did not start his professional career with any fanfare. And he didn’t really make it onto the prospect map until 2014. As Baseball America explained last winter, the righty has enhanced his athleticism, improved his mechanics, and honed his pitches significantly since the Dodgers added him to their system.
The BA scouting report notes that De Leon is able to spot his low-to-mid-nineties heater. He pairs that with a quality change and useful curve. MLB.com, which currently ranks De Leon the sixth-best right-handed pitching prospect in baseball, also crediting him with having worked hard to improve over the years.
Now, the Dodgers will test De Leon at the highest level of the game, beginning with an outing against the Padres. He’ll join fellow prized young talent Jose Urias on the MLB staff, and could end up playing an important role as the club seeks to hold off the Giants in the NL West.
While the delayed start to the year may not have been optimal in all regards, it does seem to mean that De Leon won’t have many restrictions down the stretch. He reached 114 1/3 innings last year, so he ought to be able to take the ball every fifth day and/or work into the postseason without any concern that he is being over-extended.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Dat boi
O hit
FINALLY! Feel like I’ve been waiting to hear this news forever lol. Love this kid. Can’t wait to see a rotation with Kershaw, Urias, DeLeon and Maeda Ina year or two. That’ll be a good rotation.
Except that Kershaw won’t be around after opting out of his contract because of his frustration with this FO.
Where is he gonna go? What’s he frustrated with? The fact that they traded away his bff because he can’t hit and was just a glorified cheerleader/ploach. This team is trying to win a championship and not have dead weight on the roster. He has won 3 division championships and has no success in the post season ( not because of the FO) I’m pretty sure he knows the commitment the ownership and front office have to winning and would be dumb to go anywhere else. They have been winning just fine without him and that’s a testimony to the depth this front office has created.
Outstanding !! Knock um dead kid!!
Sunday? Hmm. Nobody has been announced yet for Saturday.
ESPN fantasy baseball has Maeda listed as the probable starter for tomorrow. Not sure if that came up after your post though
Rich hill Saturday
Yep, announced late in the day, it will be Mr. Blister.
We gotta give this kid some run support. Starting Puig tonight makes sense for us because he’s hitting and Reddick isn’t. We need let this kid know we got his back and if he gives up some runs its ok and the best way to do that is to score some runs for him early.
With Clayton Richard starting for the Padres, Reddick gets the night off. Puig is in the lineup, batting 5th.
Puerto Rico!!!!! another one to the bigs
“Now, the Dodgers will test De Leon at the highest level of the game, beginning with an outing against the Padres.”
Which is it? At the highest level or beginning with an outing against the Padres?
Nice
You win the comment section for today
1
Fellow prized talent Jose Urias? Jeff where is this Jose Urias. You should hear about this young stud we got names Julio Urias. The real deal and he’s as young as they get. Glad to see Jose finally get called up to the big leagues. Bleed Blue!!!
I was actually confused by this and checked the dodgers roster without just realizing he meant julio…stupid me
Finally ! Would prefer him to bud Norris
Im going to his debut!!!!!
Dudes been dominating for a bit, Dodgers have a nice future rotation