Red Sox bring back former top pitching prospect José De León on minor-league deal

The Red Sox have agreed to terms on a minor-league contract with free-agent right-hander Jose De Leon, a source confirmed to MassLive.com’s Chris Cotillo. De Leon effectively announced the signing on Tuesday, when he posted a video of himself putting on a Red Sox hat to Instagram with the caption: “We’re back in business.”

This will mark the start of De Leon’s second stint with the Red Sox. The 32-year-old first joined the organization on a minors pact in August 2021 after being released by the Reds. He spent the remainder of the season in Fort Myers and made just two appearances for Boston’s rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate before leaving for the Blue Jays as a minor-league free agent that November.

Originally selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2013 draft out of Southern, De Leon was once viewed as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. The native Puerto Rican broke in at the big-league level in 2016 but was traded to the Rays for infielder Logan Forsythe the following January. He began to deal with arm troubles during the 2017 season, which led to him undergoing his first of two Tommy John surgeries in March 2018.

De Leon missed the entirety of the 2018 campaign and has seen limited in the majors since then. Altogether, the righty owns a lifetime 7.44 ERA (5.41 FIP) in 34 total outings (seven starts) spanning 65 1/3 innings between the Dodgers, Rays, Reds, and Twins. He logged a 4.67 ERA (3.83 FIP) in 12 appearances (17 1/3 innings) for Minnesota in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery for a second time that June.

De Leon was subsequently outrighted off the Twins’ 40-man roster and spent all of 2024 in free agency without pitching at the major- or minor-league level. After finishing his rehab, though, De Leon showed flashes of his past potential in winter ball in Puerto Rico during the offseason. In 12 appearances (two starts) between the regular season and the Caribbean Series, he forged a 1.32 ERA with 15 strikeouts to 10 walks over 13 2/3 innings.

As noted by Cotillo, Red Sox manager Alex Cora presumably got a good look at De Leon over the winter since he pitched for Cora’s hometown team in Caguas. With that being said, De Leon — who does not turn 33 until August — figures to provide Boston with upper-minors pitching depth and seems likely to open the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester if there is a spot for him there.