José De León #87

José Eugenio De León...Twitter: @JDL\_87...Instagram:@jdl\_87... spent three seasons at Southern University (LA), combining to go 17-8 with a 3.50 ERA (221.0 IP, 86 ER), 86 walks and 248 strikeouts...is one of 18 Southern University products to play in the Major Leagues, including Lou Brock and Vida Blue... when home in Puerto Rico, he likes going to the beach and reading...he’s a big fan of author Dan Brown, thanks, in part, to studying history in college...he read Brown’s Origin this offseason, but Inferno remains his favorite book...loves to stream shows on Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime...his favorite show is HBO’s Game of Thrones, and his favorite character is Samwell Tarly...held a baseball camp in his hometown over the 2018 All-Star break, his first camp ever...hosted 92 campers, including some with special needs, and may tailor the next one to kids with special needs...received fan mail asking him to sign baseball cards depicting a player of the same name from the 1970s...shared the photos on Twitter and sent back the cards with one of his own, inscribed with “This is me!"...organized a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds for his native Puerto Rico following the destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in 2017...including his own donation, he raised nearly $10,000 and donated supplies such as water, diapers and food...was on the island when Maria made landfall...the Rays front office supported his decision to be there for his family when he was faced with the choice of evacuating...José and his family mistook the eye of the storm for its conclusion and were trapped at his aunt’s house due to flooding...he was able to depart the island 10 days later...while with the Dodgers, word reached legendary broadcaster Vin Scully that José had been racing the clock to reach the majors before his retirement...Vin then arranged a meeting and signed a picture of the two of them as a gift...José took English classes throughout grade school in Puerto Rico, but was unable to carry a conversation when he came to the U.S. to attend Southern University...his very first college course was a history class with a 92-year-old professor with a southern accent so thick that most of his peers dropped the class...José, however, moved to the front row, determined that if he could understand that professor’s English, he could understand anyone,

2022

Was an invite to Toronto's Spring Training after signing a Minor League contract on Dec. 1, 2021...Began season on Triple-A Buffalo's 7-day Injured List with right rotator cuff strain...Made three appearances on rehab assignment in Aug., one with FCL Blue Jays and two with Low-A Dunedin...reinstated on Aug. 28....Made eight appearances (5 starts) for Buffalo from Aug. 28-Sept. 26, going 0-0, 4.35 ERA (10.1 IP, 5 ER) with seven walks and 15 strikeouts to finish the season...Selected to pitch for Team Puerto Rico in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, marking second career selection, also 2017.

2021

Made his first Opening Day roster as an active player...Recorded nine strikeouts in each of his two starts, tying the single-game career-high he established in 2016 while pitching for the Dodgers...In his season debut, a 5-3 win April 5 vs. PIT, became only the second pitcher born in Puerto Rico to start a game for the Reds, joining Ricky Bones...Designated for assignment July 19 and signed a Minor League deal with Boston on Aug. 4...Finished the season with two appearances for the FCL Red Sox and made one more for the Caguas of the Puerto Rico Winter League.

2020

Didn't pitch after 9/14 because of a right groin strain...beginning 9/15 spent the rest of the season on the Reds' 10-day injured list...In his first season in the organization made five relief apps during six stints on the Reds' 28-man roster...Made one appearance while on the active roster from 8/6-8/7...made two more apps while with the team from 8/28-8/31...did not pitch while on the roster from 9/8-9/9...made two apps from 9/11-9/14...twice served as the 29th player for a doubleheader but did not pitch (8/27 at Mil, 9/4 at Pit)...Had six stints on the Taxi Squad (1g on 8/5 at Cle, 2g from 8/8-8/9 at Mil, 5g from 8/22-8/27/g1 at StL/Mil, 4g from 9/4-9/6 at Pit, 1g on 9/10 at Chi, 3g from 9/25-9/27 at Min)...Threw more than 1.0 inning in three of his five apps, including a season-high 2.0 innings on 9/12 at StL...in that 7-1 loss threw scoreless seventh and eighth innings...On 9/9 at Wrigley Field the native and resident of Puerto Rico wore uniform No. 21, instead of his usual No. 87, in recognition of Roberto Clemente Day...Made his last appearance of the season in the 9-4 win on 9/14/g2 vs Pit...walked both batters and the next day went on the 10-day injured list with the right groin injury...While on the injured list traveled to the Wild Card Series at Atl as part of the Reds' 40-player Postseason pool...Following the season played for Caguas in the Puerto Rico Winter League (4gs, 2-1, 3.18, 17ip, 8h, 10bb, 31k, .145oba).

2019

Began the season on the Rays' injured list recovering from March 2018 "Tommy John" surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow...Made his first appearance on 5/4 for Charlotte...made 11 rehab apps for Charlotte and Durham before he was reinstated from the IL on 7/2...Made his 3 apps for the Rays on 8/14 at SD, 8/29 at Hou and 9/29 at Tor...Went 806 days between his Major League apps (5/29/17 at Tex & 8/14/19 at SD)...Earned his only win of the season in a 9-8 victory on 8/29 at Hou...entered that game in the sixth inning, trailing 6-5, but was credited with the win after the Rays took the lead in the top of the seventh...Made 2 starts for Durham in the International League's Governors' Cup finals, including Game 1...On 11/20, just minutes before the Rule 5 Draft reserve lists were due, was acquired by the Reds for cash and a player to be named.

2018

Underwent Tommy John surgery on March 13, performed by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. …made 2 apps in spring training and was diagnosed with a torn right ulnar collateral ligament on March 8...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 29 prospect in the Rays system following the season. 

2017

Spent the entire season in the minors aside from a one-day stint on May 29 at TEX…made his Rays debut that night and was credited the win by the official scorer…allowed 3 R/ER in 2.2 IP and his 69 pitches were the most by a Rays reliever since Chris Archer on Sep 13, 2012 at BAL (79).... Became the 11th pitcher in franchise history to win his Rays debut as a reliever and first since Andrew Bellatti on May 9, 2015 vs. TEX.... Limited to 10 apps (8 starts) in the minors due to three stints on the disabled list…started the season on the disabled list with discomfort in the flexor mass muscle…also missed time with a strained lat and forearm tendinitis.... Was initially slowed in spring training by back tightness.... Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 25 prospect in the Rays system following the season.... WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: Added to Puerto Rico's roster for the second round, replacing Jenrry Mejia…started against Venezuela and did not allow a run in 2.2 IP, with 5 SO…his strikeout victims included HOU José Altuve (twice), TEX Robinson Chirinos, KC Alcides Escobar and ATL Ender Inciarte.

2016

Made 4 starts for the Dodgers in September, his first major league action…spent the remainder of the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City. Selected to the major league roster on Sep 4 and made his major league debut that night vs. SD, a 7-4 Dodgers win…his line: W, 6 IP, 5 H, 4 R/3 ER, 0 BB, 9 SO, 1 HR, 1 HBP, 86 pitches…was the youngest Dodger to win his major league debut as a starter since Nathan Eovaldi on Aug 6, 2011 at ARI…at 24, was the fifth pitcher since records are available (1913) to win his debut as a starter with 0 BB and 9 SO or more, first since WAS Stephen Strasburg on June 8, 2010 vs. PIT. Became the first Dodger to win the first 2 apps of his career as a starter since Kazuhisa Ishii in 2002…yielded 2 ER over 5 IP on Sep 16 at NYY, an 8-2 Dodgers win…was the first NL pitcher to win at Yankee Stadium within his first 2 career apps since FLA Aníbal Sánchez in 2006. Lasted just 3.2 IP and 2.1 IP in his next 2 starts, both no-decisions. Had a pair of DL stints with Oklahoma City due to ankle and shoulder injuries…went 7-1 with a 2.61 ERA, 111 SO, .194 opp avg. and 5.55 SO/BB ratio in 16 starts…named a Triple-A All-Star by Baseball America. Recorded double-digit strikeouts in 5 of his 16 minor league starts, including 3 straight immediately prior to his selection. Was a non-roster invite to Dodgers spring training…made 3 relief apps before being reassigned to minor league camp. Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 29 overall prospect in the minors entering the 2017 season…was the No. 3 prospect in the Dodgers organization and the No. 3 prospect in the Pacific Coast League following the 2016 season.