While the Los Angeles Dodgers have needed to tap into their starting pitching depth, Jose De Leon has not been among those called on. The right-hander has instead spent the entire season with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
There was another opportunity for De Leon to make his Major League debut Sunday, as he’s scheduled to pitch for OKC, but the Dodgers instead are giving the ball to Brock Stewart.
De Leon, who entered the 2016 rated a top right-handed pitching prospect, should get his opportunity soon enough.
Active rosters expand on Sept. 1 and while Los Angeles has yet to reveal any details on who they’ll call up, the 24-year-old may be among those jumping to the Majors.
Selected in the 24th round of the 2013 Draft, De Leon’s rise through the Minor League ranks has been nothing short of astounding.
De Leon recently explained how and why he’s been comfortable pitching under pressure and expectations, even in year’s past, via Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com:
“To be honest, I’ve been doing that last year, too,” he said. “Even when I was far away, I’m trying to prove that I’m a big-league pitcher. I’m getting closer and closer, and to me, that’s fun to pitch with that on the line when you know people are watching like that. I like pitching under that kind of pressure, and it pushes me.”
After missing time earlier this season due to ankle and shoulder injuries, De Leon has found his stride of late. In his past four starts, including Sunday’s outing, the right-hander has completed seven innings in each outing, and tallied 40 strikeouts.
He strung together back-to-back starts with 10 strikeouts, then upped the ante with 13 punchouts across 7.2 innings on Sunday. De Leon finished one strikeout shy of matching the Oklahoma City franchise record and his personal career high.
De Leon has now reached double-digit strikeouts in five starts this season. In his Aug. 17 start, De Leon opened the game with an immaculate inning — striking out the side on nine pitches.
