At this point, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the rest of the baseball world, have to wonder what Jose De Leon is as a pitcher.
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A consensus top 50 prospect in each of the past two years, De Leon has been an enigma. He has pitched well in the minors, posting a lifetime 25-15 record, along with a 3.32 ERA and a 1.130 WHiP. In his 369 minor league innings, De Leon has struck out 490 batters with only 115 walks. He has nothing left to prove in the minor leagues.
However, that success has not translated to the major league level in his brief stints. In his five games, spanning 19.2 innings, De Leon has a 6.86 ERA and a 1.678 WHiP. While he has struck out 17 batters, he has also issued ten walks. Injuries hampered his 2017 campaign, but even when he was on the mound, he struggled. And yet, he is somehow 3-0 in those outings.
Just like with Jake Faria and Brent Honeywell, De Leon has a lot of talent. Relying primarily on his fastball/change combination, he generates a lot of swings and misses and groundballs when on his game. Should he develop a viable third pitch, De Leon could become a star in the rotation. Otherwise, his future may be in the Rays bullpen, potentially emerging as a late inning weapon.
Jose De Leon may be the riskiest of the Tampa Bay Rays potential aces. He has the stuff, but that lack of a third pitch may put him in the bullpen.