Impressive in relief, Orioles will try De León as a starter next spring

The Baltimore Orioles plan to give left-handed pitcher Luis De León every opportunity to earn a starting rotation spot next spring. After transitioning to the bullpen late in the season, the 23-year-old posted a 1.93 ERA across eight September relief appearances. Manager Craig Albernaz confirmed that De León will enter spring training as a starting pitcher following his strong finish against the Toronto Blue Jays.

De León posted a 0-2 record in the majors after striking out 121 batters over 99 minor league innings in 2026. The Orioles face a potential shortage of southpaw starters heading into the offseason, with Trevor Rogers entering free agency and Cade Povich as the only other left-handed starter on the 40-man roster. Meanwhile, Kyle Bradish and Jackson Holliday both underwent successful surgeries.