Arnold Leon

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Athletics #20 prospect in 2016
  Leon's had a long journey since the Athletics signed him out of the Mexican League as a 19-year-old in 2008. Tommy John surgery kept him out for almost two full seasons in 2010-11 and he's shifted backand- forth between starting and relieving, but he finally broke through to the majors in 2015, and the A's believe he's found a home in the bullpen. His velocity picked up a bit in the shorter bursts, working at 92-94 mph and as high as 96. He has three secondary pitches, but his 68-72 mph downer curveball comes to the forefront when he's working out of the pen. His slider and changeup are serviceable pitches as well, giving him enough depth to his repertoire that the A's won't close the book on him starting games again at some point. Leon finished last season strong, posting a 2.57 ERA for Oakland in September. He'll be out of minor league options in 2016, so the A's will look for him prove he can stick in the majors.
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  Ranked Athletics #27 prospect in 2015
  Leon missed the better part of two seasons from 2010-11 after having Tommy John surgery but earned a spot on Oakland's 40-man roster after the 2012 season. He has some physicality and a low- to mid-90s fastball which he can also sink at times. His secondary pitches come and go but all are useable. He'll show a hammer 11-to-5 curveball at his best, along with a short slider and a deceptive changeup. Leon does a good job of throwing strikes, but he ran into trouble last season when he worried too much about trying to trick hitters and got away from pitching off his fastball. With only one option season remaining, Leon needs to break through to Oakland sooner than later. He could help the A's as either a starter or in the bullpen, where his stuff might play up, in 2015.
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  Ranked Athletics #21 prospect in 2014
  Leon began 2013 by touching off a veritable international incident. Pitching for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, his plunking of Canada's Rene Tosoni in the late innings of a blowout loss for the Mexicans led to a nasty benches-clearing brawl. Despite that ignominious beginning, Leon had a strong season, converting to starting three years removed from Tommy John surgery and throwing a lot of quality strikes. Leon has the weapons to pitch in a rotation with three usable pitches. His 92-93 mph fastball, which hit 96 out of the bullpen, could use more movement, but he can command it to both sides of the plate. He gets good arm speed and fading action on his changeup, his best secondary pitch. He uses a cutter-type slider as his primary breaking ball. He can also mix in the occasional slow, loopy curveball that he throws for strikes. The Athletics like Leon's smooth delivery, and he works with a good tempo on the mound. He'll sometimes open up too early in his motion, costing him deception especially against lefthanders, who torched him for a .348 average in 2013. A member of the Oakland 40-man roster, Leon's strong finish at Triple-A Sacramento in 2013 (3-1, 2.95 in August) has him positioned to make his big league debut in 2014.
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  Ranked Athletics #29 prospect in 2013
  The A's signed Leon out of the Mexican League in 2007, and he looked to be on the rise after a solid 2009 season in Double-A. His career went off the rails when he went down after just three appearances in 2010, needed Tommy John surgery and essentially missed two full years. Oakland had harbored hopes of making him a starter, but he had been a reliever throughout his career in Mexico and returned to the bullpen once he finally pitched meaningful innings again last season. Leon put himself back on the team's radar with strong showings in the upper minors, earning a spot on the A's 40-man roster. His low 90s fastball has returned and he touches 95 mph from an easy, effortless delivery. His heater is fairly straight, but he does a good job of keeping it down in the strike zone. Leon's fading changeup is his go-to secondary pitch, and he mixes in a slow curveball. Oakland hasn't completely abandoned the idea of turning Leon into a starter, but with its glut of young pitchers, his path the big leagues looks to be as a reliever. He's a longshot to earn a job in big league camp, and if that doesn't happen he'll head back to Triple-A to begin the season.
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  Ranked Athletics #19 prospect in 2010
  Athletics roving infield instructor Juan Navarrete discovered Leon while he was pitching for Saltillo of the Mexican League. The A's signed Leon after the 2007 season but he didn't spend a full year in their system until 2009. Part of Oakland's agreement with Saltillo stipulated that Leon would be loaned back for the second half of the 2008 season. He spent most of last season in Midland's bullpen in order to keep his innings down after he had pitched almost non-stop for two years between the A's, Saltillo and winter ball. He did make seven starts toward the end of the year and posted a 1-2, 1.76 record. Leon comes after hitters with a low-90s fastball that tops out at 93 mph and has cutting action. He throws both a hard slider and a slow 12-to-6 curveball, though both breaking balls lack consistency. His best secondary offering is his changeup, which has depth and is effective against lefthanders. Leon has a drop-and-drive delivery and sometimes has trouble staying on top of the ball. When he does, he gets a lot of movement down in the zone. Leon was a reliever throughout his career in Mexico and again in winter ball there, but the A's will attempt to develop him as a starter. They could choose to ease him into the role by returning him to Double-A.
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  Ranked Athletics #29 prospect in 2009
  A's roving infield instructor Juan Navarrete lives in Saltillo, Mexico, where he spotted Leon pitching in the Mexican League. After Navarrete touted him, the A's purchased Leon's contract from the Saltillo Sarape Makers in November 2007. They were allowed to keep him until June 15, then had to return him to Saltillo to finish out the season per the terms of the agreement. He'll be back with the A's full-time in 2009. Leon piled up strikeouts in the California and Mexican leagues by working off a sneaky low-90s fastball that has some sink. Leon's best secondary pitch is a big, slow 68-69 mph curveball, and he also has added a cutter to give him a harder offspeed offering. His changeup is below-average. Leon has a drop-and-drive delivery, which at 5-foot-11 causes his pitches to flatten when he leaves them up in the zone, so he needs to create better downward angle to the plate. Though he was a reliever in his U.S. debut and in Mexico, Oakland may use him as a starter next year.