Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Splitter: 45 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

De León has steadily grown into one of the best pitching prospects in the Orioles’ system since signing out of the Dominican Republic for just $30,000 during the 2021 international period, long showing a tantalizing mix of stuff and upside. He took a big step forward in 2025, reaching Double-A down the stretch and then heading to the Arizona Fall League, where he was one of the circuit’s top pitchers.

De León is a long, lean, left-handed ground-ball machine. His lynchpin is a 95-98 mph sinker with significant arm-side run that generates tons of weak contact, leading to a 1.92 GO/AO rate in 2025, and he also throws a four-seam fastball with more rise. He complements those heaters with a full array of secondary offerings: a sharp slider, an improving changeup and an emerging splitter. All can be plus pitches because De León throws everything with good arm speed and angle when his mechanics are clicking. These varied weapons make him extremely difficult for hitters to square up; he didn’t allow a home run in 87 1/3 innings of work in ‘25.

De León has always had inconsistent command, and his control can unravel when his mechanics fall out of sync. But his stuff plays up when he’s repeating his delivery and staying on top of his release, and he’s shown improvement in the free-passes department, slicing his walk rate every season as he’s matured. If he can consistently throw all of his pitches for strikes and limit the walks, his weapons give him the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter, with the raw stuff to impact a big league bullpen even sooner.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40 

The Orioles signed the Dominican Republic native De León as an 18-year-old late in the 2020-21 international signing period for $30,000, which could turn into great value given the left-hander’s tantalizing combination of stuff and upside. His stock began rising at Single-A Delmarva, where De León racked up 72 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings across 2023-24, but he wore down after a mid-season move to High-A last summer and struggled mightily down the stretch.

Though he’s still a little raw and unpolished, teams tend to salivate over left-handers with De León's profile. He’s a long, lean, athletic 6-foot-3 with a legitimate three-pitch mix that is very difficult for hitters to square up when he’s commanding it well. The heavy-sinking fastball he slings generates tons of weak grounders and he can reach back and touch the upper 90s with it at times. His secondary offerings are a sharp slider with three-quarter break and a fading changeup. Both have a chance to be average pitches because De León throws everything with good arm speed and angle when his mechanics are clicking. When they aren’t, below-average control and inconsistent command undercut his effectiveness and things can spiral. 

The walk issues stem from De León’s need to find a consistent release point and better repeat his delivery, which should help him stay ahead of hitters, pitch in fewer defensive counts and limit damage. There is still time for him to do that, given that he'll be 22 for all of the 2025 season. If he can improve at throwing all three of his pitches for strikes, he has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter, though his stuff is probably good enough to impact a bullpen sooner if something clicks mechanically.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45 

At the end of the 2020-21 international signing period, the Orioles had just enough bonus pool money remaining to ink De León in December, signing the Dominican left-hander for $30,000. It’s looking more and more like a big bargain after he pitched his way to full-season ball in 2023, raising his stock enough to be targeted by clubs in trade talks during the summer. He finished the year by striking out more than a batter per inning in 26⅓ frames at Single-A Delmarva.

Long, lean and athletic at 6-foot-3, De León uses big arm speed to sling heavy mid-90s fastballs that hitters tend to pound into the ground. He’s revved that heater up to 98 mph and has a pair of secondary offerings that could be average or better in the future -- a changeup with good fade and a sharp slider with three-quarter break. There are some mechanical issues to clean up that should allow De León to improve his command and control, as walks can still be an issue. 

Though De León lacks full polish right now, he’ll only be 21 for the 2024 season and he’s athletic enough to make the adjustments necessary to command his arsenal long term. The stuff is plenty enough at this point to get excited about, with a legitimate three-pitch mix from the left side, giving De León a chance to stick as a starter. If he can continue throwing all three for strikes as he adds strength and gets more reps, there is a chance De León can develop into an impact arm -- and soon. 

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 45 | Overall: 40

As GM Mike Elias and company brought the Orioles back into the international market, they were aggressive at the start of the 2020-21 international signing period, which opened in January that year, giving seven figures to Samuel Basallo and Maikol Hernandez. At the end of the period in December, they had just enough bonus pool money left to ink De León for $30,000. If early returns mean anything, it may be a huge bargain as the left-hander pitched his way to full-season ball in 2023.

Long and lean at 6-foot-3, De León has an athletic frame that could add more strength, and he has plenty of stuff to get excited about. His fastball will sit in the 94-97 mph range, and he has a pair of secondary offerings that could be above-average or better in the future. He has a good fade on his changeup and a slider with sharp three-quarter break, and he can throw both for strikes and get chases.

Because of his athleticism, there’s confidence in De León’s ability to command his arsenal long-term, though he’s more around the zone now than filling it up. With a legitimate three-pitch mix and the ability to land it for strikes in the future -- especially as he adds strength and gets more reps -- De León has the chance to stick as a starter.

Awards

AFL Rising Stars

Year	Team
2025

AFL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
10/12/2025

SAL Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
08/17/2025

CAR Pitcher of the Week

Week	Team
07/30/2023

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	03/05/2026	LHP Luis De León assigned to Baltimore Orioles Prospects.
	02/04/2026	Baltimore Orioles invited non-roster LHP Luis De León to spring training.
	11/08/2025	American League Fall Stars activated LHP Luis De León.
	09/10/2025	LHP Luis De León assigned to Peoria Javelinas.
	08/26/2025	LHP Luis De León assigned to Chesapeake Baysox from Aberdeen IronBirds.
	05/27/2025	Aberdeen IronBirds activated LHP Luis De León from the 7-day injured list.
	05/07/2025	Aberdeen IronBirds sent LHP Luis De León on a rehab assignment to Delmarva Shorebirds.
	04/04/2025	Aberdeen IronBirds placed LHP Luis De León on the 7-day injured list.
	03/10/2025	LHP Luis De León assigned to Baltimore Orioles.
	03/06/2025	activated LHP Luis De León.
	05/21/2024	LHP Luis De León assigned to Aberdeen IronBirds from Delmarva Shorebirds.
	05/21/2024	Aberdeen IronBirds activated LHP Luis De León.
	05/21/2024	Aberdeen IronBirds activated LHP Luis De León.
	07/14/2023	LHP Luis De León assigned to Delmarva Shorebirds from FCL Orioles.
	07/14/2023	Delmarva Shorebirds activated LHP Luis De León.
	06/04/2023	LHP Luis De Leon assigned to FCL Orioles.
	04/27/2023	Orioles Organization activated LHP Luis De Leon. Ext Spring Game.
	08/05/2022	LHP Luis De Leon assigned to DSL BAL Black from DSL BAL Orange.
	08/05/2022	DSL BAL Black activated LHP Luis De Leon.
	07/29/2022	LHP Luis De Leon assigned to DSL BAL Orange from DSL BAL Black.
	07/01/2022	DSL BAL Black activated LHP Luis De Leon from the 7-day injured list.
	06/03/2022	DSL BAL Black placed LHP Luis De Leon on the 7-day injured list.
	06/03/2022	LHP Luis De Leon assigned to DSL BAL Black.
	12/15/2021	Baltimore Orioles signed free agent LHP Luis De Leon to a minor league contract.