Impressive in relief, Orioles will try De León as a starter next spring

As they do every year, the Orioles will be looking for additional starting pitchers over the offseason. One contender hasn’t made a major league start but was impressive in his eight September relief appearances with the Orioles.

Left-hander Luis De León is the team’s No. 7 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, and was 0-2 with a 1.93 ERA. The 23-year-old ended his season strongly.

In his last six outings, De León threw 7 2/3 innings, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out four, earning praise from manager Craig Albernaz after his last outing in the first game of the September 23^rd doubleheader against Toronto.

“LDL was outstanding today,” Albernaz said. “It was the first time we put him in a dirty inning.”

De  León entered with two runners on base, and though he allowed the inherited runs, Albernaz praised him.

“LDL has been really impressive, what he’s done, and in any situation we put him in. He has a bright future.’’

The Orioles decided the best way to introduce De León to the major leagues was to temporarily convert him to a reliever. After four relief appearances for Triple-A Norfolk, De León got his call to join the Orioles in Colorado on September 1^st.

Next spring, he’ll be back as a starter, trying to make the team.

“He’s going to come into camp as a starter,” Albernaz said. “[Luis] did a great job. We talked about being thrust into the bullpen for two weeks in the minor leagues, and he did outstanding at the big league level in his first taste. It’s impressive how he handles himself, his demeanor, and obviously the stuff stands out. It’s elite stuff and, with his demeanor and that stuff, we’re going to give him every avenue to be a starter.”

De León’s season was ended by the Orioles after that last outing against the Blue Jays, and he enjoyed the experience.

“It felt good. It felt normal, just like any other game, any other situation,” De León said about his final outing through a team translator. “I was just trying to get out of that inning without allowing any runs to score and without allowing those runs to be tacked on to my teammate.”

De León threw 99 innings for Norfolk and Double-A Chesapeake and walked 53 batters while striking out 121. He credited his improved control in the major leagues by reducing the number of pitches he threw from five as a starter to three as a reliever.

“Ever since I started playing baseball, this is something I’ve dreamed of,” he said when he arrived in the major leagues. “The way I started this year, I wasn’t sure it was going to happen, but to be here now, it’s incredible, and I’m truly thankful and really happy.”

De León had a rocky introduction to the majors. When he was called with the news, he was busy watching Netflix. His roommate told him he had multiple missed messages.

“’Dude, they’ve been calling you,’” he said. “Sure enough, I finally went to my phone and called back, and that’s how I found out.”

If Trevor Rogers leaves as a free agent, the incumbent starters — Shane Baz, Kyle Bradish and Brandon Young — would all be right-handed. Cade Povich, who started seven times, is the only other left-handed starter on the 40-man roster.

The other top Norfolk starters — Gibson, Michael Forrett, Nestor German and Levi Wells — are all right-handed.

Two top prospects at Chesapeake, Joseph Dzierwa and Caden Hunter, are both left-handed, but they’re not serious contenders to begin the season with the Orioles.

Assuming Rogers leaves, the Orioles will need to sign or trade for a left-handed starter.

Notes: Starting pitcher Kyle Bradish had surgery on Tuesday for a sports hernia by Dr. Bill Meyers in Philadelphia. Second baseman Jackson Holliday had surgery on his left wrist by Dr. Steven Shin in Los Angeles on Tuesday. The Orioles report that both surgeries were successful. … Catcher Sam Huff, who hit .121 in 14 games with the Orioles filed for free agency. … The Orioles signed right-handed pitchers Gerald Ogando and Jackson Rees to 2027 minor league contracts. Ogando was 3-2 with a 4.89 ERA with three saves in 44 games with Double-A Chesapeake and Triple-A Norfolk. The 32-year-old Rees, who hasn’t been in organized baseball since 2023, was 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA and four saves in 24 games for Dos Laredos in the Mexican League.

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