How pitching prospect Luis De Leon could help Orioles make MLB postseason

After yesterday's loss to the Colorado Rockies, the Baltimore Orioles are 1.5 games back of the third and final American League Wild Card spot. 

They'll need a hot stretch in September to overtake the Cleveland Guardians for the third Wild Card berth. 

Baltimore's AL East chances went out the door quite some time ago, but one of their recently promoted prospects could bring a jolt of energy to the field. 

Yesterday, the Orioles promoted left-hander Luis De Leon, the organization's No. 7-ranked prospect on MLB Pipeline. 

What will De Leon's role be on the Orioles? 

"Realistically, it's too late in the campaign for the 23-year-old Luis De León to crack the Orioles rotation," FanSided's Christopher Kline wrote. "That is a 2027 project; in fact, Baltimore already moved De León to the bullpen in Triple-A in anticipation of this exact moment. The O's want him to come in for an inning or two at a time and throw his best stuff." 

De Leon made his MLB debut on Tuesday against the Rockies, earning the loss while allowing two runs (1 earned) with a strikeout in one inning. Rockies first baseman TJ Rumfield hit a solo homer off the youngster in the seventh inning. 

MORE: Cubs trade deadline addition Clay Holmes likely to opt out of $12M 2027 player option

One rough outing won't stop the Orioles from using him down the stretch. De Leon struck out 121 batters in 99 combined innings between Double-A and Triple-A before his call-up. 

"Baltimore's bullpen is not especially talent-rich right now, so there's a nonzero chance De León is quickly earning high-leverage appearances," Kline added. 

If De Leon's swing-and-miss stuff follows him to the Majors, the Orioles may have a valuable weapon in the season's final month and into the postseason. 

More MLB news:

• Astros' Yordan Alvarez has chance to join two MLB legends with very rare history
• Bo Bichette likely not to opt out of Mets $42 million contract
• Jose Berrios ‘extremely unlikely’ to opt out of $48 million deal with Blue Jays
• Edmundo Sosa's Grand Slam gives Phillies crazy home-run statistic for 2026 season
• Dodgers get concerning update on Shohei Ohtani as he’s not 100% yet