Spring Training

Orioles cut Espada, De Léon

Mar 7, 2026; North Port, Florida, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Luis de Leon (81) throws a pitch against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning during spring Training at CoolToday Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

SARASOTA—The Orioles trimmed their roster by two on Wednesday, optioning right-handed pitcher Jose Espada to minor league camp and reassigning left-hander Luis De Léon to minor league camp.

Espada, who returned to the Orioles after pitching for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, allowed two unearned runs on one hit in four innings, walking one and striking out four. He gave up an unearned run on Tuesday.

De Léon, the Orioles’ fourth-ranked prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out two.

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The Orioles have 47 players in camp, including 12 non-roster invitees and relievers Félix Bautista and Colin Selby, who are on the 60-day injured list.

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Rich Dubroff

Rich Dubroff grew up in Brooklyn as a fan of New York teams, but after he moved to Baltimore, quickly adopted the Orioles and Colts. After nearly two decades as a freelancer assisting on Orioles coverage for several outlets, principally The Capital in Annapolis and The Carroll County Times, Dubroff began covering the team fulltime in 2011. He spent five years at Comcast SportsNet’s website and for the last two seasons, wrote for PressBoxonline.com, Dubroff lives in Baltimore with his wife of more than 30 years, Susan.