José Eugenio De León Domenech (born August 7, 1992) is a Puerto Rican professional
baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball sport played between two team sport, teams of nine players each, taking turns batting (baseball), batting and Fielding (baseball), fielding. The game occurs over the course of several Pitch ...
pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("Pitch (baseball), pitches") the Baseball (ball), baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of out (baseball), retiring a batter (baseball), batter, ...
in the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
organization. He has previously played in
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball league composed of 30 teams, divided equally between the National League (baseball), National League (NL) and the American League (AL), with 29 in the United States and 1 in Canada. MLB i ...
(MLB) for the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
,
Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
,
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
, and
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
.
Career
Los Angeles Dodgers
De León played
college baseball
College baseball is baseball that is played by Student athlete, student-athletes at institutions of higher education. In the United States, college baseball is sanctioned mainly by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA); in Japan, ...
at
Southern University
Southern University and A&M College (Southern University, Southern, SUBR or SU) is a Public university, public historically black colleges and universities, historically black land-grant university in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States. It i ...
from 2011 to 2013. He was drafted by the
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Div ...
in the 24th round of the
2013 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2013 Major League Baseball draft was held from June 6 through June 8, 2013. The first two rounds were broadcast from Studio 42 of the MLB Network in Secaucus, New Jersey.
Each team received one selection per round, going in reverse order of ...
. He signed with the Dodgers and made his professional debut with the
Arizona League Dodgers. He was later promoted to the
Ogden Raptors. De León returned to Ogden to start the 2014 season. After recording a 2.65
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
(ERA) and 77
strikeouts in innings, he was promoted to the
Great Lakes Loons. In his second start with the Loons, De León had 14 strikeouts, breaking
Clayton Kershaw's team record of 12 set in 2007. In four starts with Great Lakes, he had a 1.19 ERA with 42 strikeouts in innings. After the season, he was named the
Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year, for his performance that season with Ogden.
De León was assigned to the
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the
California League
The California League is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in California. Having been classified at various levels throughout its existence, it operated at Class A-Advanced from 1990 until its demotion to Single-A following Major Leagu ...
to start the 2015 season. In seven starts for the Quakes he was 4–1 with a 1.67 ERA and he was promoted to the AA
Tulsa Drillers of the
Texas League
The Texas League is a Minor League Baseball league which has operated in the South Central United States since 1902. It is classified as a Double-A league. Despite the league's name, only its five South Division teams are actually based in the ...
on May 18. He was selected to the California League mid-season all-star team but was unable to participate because of his promotion to AA. He was selected as a second team
Baseball America
''Baseball America'' (BA) is a sports publication company that covers baseball at every level, including Major League Baseball (MLB), with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in Minor League Baseball (MiLB) college, high school, and inte ...
minor league all-star after the season. He had a 2–6 record in AA with a 3.64 ERA and 105 strikeouts.
He was given a non-roster invitation to Dodgers spring training. In 2016, he spent the season in AAA with the
Oklahoma City Dodgers
The Oklahoma City Comets are a Minor League Baseball team of the Pacific Coast League (PCL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They are located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and play their ho ...
, where he was 7–1 with a 2.61 ERA in 16 starts. He also struck out 111 batters against only 20 walks.
[
De León had his contract purchased by the Dodgers and was called up to the majors on September 3, 2016, making his debut as the starting pitcher for the Dodgers against the ]San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League West, West Division. ...
on September 4. He allowed four runs in six innings in his debut to pick up the win. His nine strikeouts (with no walks) was the second most by a Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher in his debut, trailing only Pedro Astacio and Kazuhisa Ishii. In four starts for the Dodgers he was 2–0 with a 6.35 ERA.
Tampa Bay Rays
On January 23, 2017, the Dodgers traded De León to the Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays are an American professional baseball team based in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. They are one of two major ...
in exchange for second baseman
In baseball and softball, second baseman, abbreviated 2B, is a fielding position in the Infielder, infield, between Baseball field#Second base, second and Baseball field#First base, first base. The second baseman often possesses quick hands and f ...
Logan Forsythe. De León started the 2017 season ranked as the Rays' third best prospect and 28th overall by MLB Pipeline. He opened the season on the minor league disabled list due to discomfort in the flexor mass muscle in the forearm, which is often a precursor to Tommy John surgery.
On May 29, De León got his first call-up by the Rays due to a depleted bullpen from a 15 inning victory against the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
the day before. In his Rays debut, he allowed three runs on four hits, two walks, and two strikeouts in 2 innings pitched, and took the win. He was sent back down the next day.
On June 9, De León was put on the minor league disabled list with a mild lat strain. On August 14, De León was placed on the minor league disabled list for the third time in 2017, this time with elbow tendinitis. De León was diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament on March 7, 2018. One week later, Dr. James Andrews successfully performed Tommy John surgery, ending De León's 2018 season. De León returned to game action in May 2019. He returned to the Rays active roster on August 14.
Cincinnati Reds
On November 20, 2019, the Rays traded De León to the Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...
in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later
In Major League Baseball, a player to be named later (PTBNL) is an unnamed player involved in exchange or "trade" of players between teams. The terms of a trade are not finalized until a later date, most often following the conclusion of the seaso ...
. In 2020 for Cincinnati, De León registered an 18.00 ERA with 10 strikeouts in six innings of work across five appearances.
De León posted a 4.63 ERA in 12 games for the Triple-A Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League (IL) and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. They are located in Louisville, Kentucky, and are named in dual reference to the bat, wi ...
, but struggled to an 8.35 ERA in 9 games with Cincinnati before being designated for assignment on July 19, 2021. De León was released by the Reds organization on July 23.
Boston Red Sox
On August 4, 2021, De León agreed to a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
; he was assigned to the Worcester Red Sox. De León made two appearances for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Red Sox, allowing two runs on theee hits with four strikeouts in two innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 7.
Toronto Blue Jays
On November 29, 2021, De León signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a Canadian professional baseball team based in Toronto. The Blue Jays compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Since 1989, the team has p ...
organization, and received an invitation to spring training
Spring training, also called spring camp, is the preseason of the Summer Professional Baseball Leagues, such as Major League Baseball (MLB), and it is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spri ...
. He made three appearances for the rookie-level Florida Complex League Blue Jays and Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays before he was elevated to the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons. In 8 games (5 starts), De León logged a 4.35 ERA with 15 strikeouts in innings pitched. He elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.
Minnesota Twins
On December 13, 2022, De León signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an American professional baseball team based in Minneapolis. The Twins compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. The team is named afte ...
organization. He began the 2023 season with the Triple-A St. Paul Saints, where he made 9 appearances and recorded a 3.62 ERA with 26 strikeouts and 1 save in 27.1 innings pitched. On May 16, 2023, De León's contract was selected to the active roster. During a game against the Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
on June 24, De León injured his arm while warming up in the 8th inning after being brought in to pitch. To that point in the season, he had recorded a 4.67 ERA with 17 strikeouts in innings pitched. On June 26, it was announced that De León would undergo Tommy John surgery after an MRI
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical imaging technique used in radiology to generate pictures of the anatomy and the physiological processes inside the body. MRI scanners use strong magnetic fields, magnetic field gradients, and rad ...
revealed a torn ligament in his right elbow. Following the season on October 20, De León was removed from the 40-man roster and sent outright to Triple–A St. Paul. On October 23, De León elected free agency.
Boston Red Sox (second stint)
On March 4, 2025, De León signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East Division. Founded in as one of the Ameri ...
.
International career
During the 2023 World Baseball Classic (WBC), De León pitched for the Puerto Rico national team. On March 13, 2023, he started versus Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
and retired every batter faced over innings, including a WBC-record 10 strikeouts, to exit with an ongoing perfect game. Yacksel Ríos, Edwin Díaz, and Duane Underwood Jr. each relieved De León and retired every batter faced, and Martín Maldonado caught on the way to a 10–0 win. The contest ended when Maldonado scored on a walk-off hit in the bottom of the eighth inning that invoked the tournament's mercy rule
A mercy rule, slaughter rule, knockout rule, or skunk rule ends a two-competitor sports competition earlier than the scheduled endpoint if one competitor has a very large and presumably insurmountable scoring lead over the other. It is called t ...
. However, it did not qualify as an official perfect game per the Elias Sports Bureau, due to lasting fewer than nine innings.
See also
* List of Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
References
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Leon, Jose
1992 births
Living people
People from Isabela, Puerto Rico
Major League Baseball players from Puerto Rico
Major League Baseball pitchers
2017 World Baseball Classic players
2023 World Baseball Classic players
Los Angeles Dodgers players
Tampa Bay Rays players
Cincinnati Reds players
Minnesota Twins players
Southern Jaguars baseball players
Arizona League Dodgers players
Ogden Raptors players
Criollos de Caguas players
Great Lakes Loons players
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes players
Tulsa Drillers players
Oklahoma City Dodgers players
Gulf Coast Rays players
Charlotte Stone Crabs players
Durham Bulls players
Liga de Béisbol Profesional Roberto Clemente pitchers
Louisville Bats players
Florida Complex League Blue Jays players
Florida Complex League Red Sox players
Dunedin Blue Jays players
Buffalo Bisons (minor league) players
St. Paul Saints players
Worcester Red Sox players