Unsung Orioles pitching prospect is getting a lot of attention down in the AFL

When fans think of the Baltimore Orioles think about the team's current farm system, some names pop up more quickly than others. Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers are still technically prospects who are getting a lot of attention now that they are in the big leagues, and it is certainly true that Orioles fans are eager to see how their vaunted 2025 draft class turns out. One name that doesn't come up all that often (but should) is left-handed pitching prospect Luis De Leon.

De Leon was signed several years ago as an international free agent, and it appeared as though he was headed towards flaming out of the minor leagues thanks to problems with his command. While that wildness issue remains, De Leon finally took a major step forward in 2025 by pitching his way up three levels of the minors all the way to Double-A while posting a 3.30 ERA in 20 appearances with 107 strikeouts in 87.1 innings of work.

Baltimore clearly noticed De Leon's progress and decided to send him to the Arizona Fall League to get some extra innings under his belt before he starts his offseason. It is safe to say that after making his first AFL start, scouts are big fans of De Leon's potential.

Orioles prospect Luis De Leon is opening eyes down in the AFL

According to a report from MASN Sports' Roch Kubatko, De Leon is quickly turning into a scout favorite in Arizona. Kubatko got a quote from one unnamed scout from a different team who said about De Leon after seeing him multiple times in 2025, "Really good (stuff). Good fastball, a good slider, the changeup’s coming. Kind of gave him a chance at being a bottom-of-the-rotation type arm with upside. I think he’s gonna have to develop a fourth pitch, but he’s only 22.”

Based on pure stuff, it is hard to argue with that assessment. De Leon has a heavy fastball that gets a lot of ground balls, which he throws in the mid to upper 90s, as well as a slider with a lot of break and a changeup that is pretty much just a change of pace pitch. When he is on, De Leon looks unhittable. The problem is that his control is extremely problematic, as even during his good season in 2025, he still walked 41 batters in a little over 87 innings of work. That walk rate isn't going to cut it in the majors.

Thankfully, De Leon does have time to dial his stuff in, and those command issues are likely something the Orioles want him to focus on down in the AFL. If he can throw more competitive pitches, De Leon could turn into a really solid starting pitcher with upside. If he can't, De Leon may need to get shifted to the bullpen, where his stuff could play up and he could turn into a standout reliever.