Pedro León (baseball)

León began his professional baseball career playing for the Huracanes de Mayabeque of the Cuban National Series. In the 2017–18 season, he batted .325 with four home runs, 14 runs batted in (RBI), and 15 runs in 22 games.{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2875189-pedro-leon-reportedly-expected-to-sign-4m-astros-contract-in-july|title=Pedro Leon Reportedly Expected to Sign $4M Astros Contract in July|first=Timothy|last=Rapp|website=Bleacher Report|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202735/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2875189-pedro-leon-reportedly-expected-to-sign-4m-astros-contract-in-july|url-status=live}} The following season, León hit .371 with 15 home runs, a 1.220 OPS and seven stolen bases in 33 games and played in the 2018 National Series All-Star Game.{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-favorites-to-sign-cuban-prospect-pedro-leon|title=Houston may have found its next Cuban star|first=Brian|last=Sanchez|website=MLB.com|date=February 10, 2020|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=December 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201215173915/https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-favorites-to-sign-cuban-prospect-pedro-leon|url-status=live}} Considered a top international prospect for the Major Leagues, León defected from Cuba to the Dominican Republic in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.periodicocubano.com/pedro-manuel-leon-joven-prospecto-del-beisbol-abandona-cuba/|title=Pedro Manuel León, joven prospecto del béisbol, abandona Cuba|website=periodicocubano.com|date=October 7, 2019|language=Spanish|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=June 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202902/https://www.periodicocubano.com/pedro-manuel-leon-joven-prospecto-del-beisbol-abandona-cuba/|url-status=live}}

León agreed to sign with the Houston Astros in February, 2020, and signed for a $4 million bonus on January 15, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28649990/astros-expected-sign-slugging-cuban-pedro-leon|title=Sources: Astros expected to sign slugging Cuban OF Pedro Leon|website=ESPN.com|date=February 6, 2020|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415153151/https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28649990/astros-expected-sign-slugging-cuban-pedro-leon|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/pedro-leon-agrees-to-deal-with-astros|title=Cuban OF Leon among Astros' int'l signings|first=Brian|last=McTaggart|website=MLB.com|date=January 15, 2021|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=February 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224021845/https://www.mlb.com/news/pedro-leon-agrees-to-deal-with-astros|url-status=live}} León was a non-roster invitee to the Astros spring training in 2021.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Pedro-Leon-among-non-roster-invitees-to-Astros-15947598.php|title=Pedro Leon among non-roster invitees to Astros spring training|work=Houston Chronicle|date=February 12, 2021|access-date=February 24, 2021|archive-date=February 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223081202/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Pedro-Leon-among-non-roster-invitees-to-Astros-15947598.php|url-status=live |last1=Rome |first1=Chandler }} León was reassigned to minor league camp after going 0–12 in six spring training games.{{cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-pedro-leon-reassigned-to-minor-league-camp/|title=Astros' Pedro Leon: Reassigned to minor-league camp|website=CBS Sports|publisher=RotoWire|date=March 17, 2021|access-date=May 15, 2021|archive-date=May 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515170107/https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-pedro-leon-reassigned-to-minor-league-camp/|url-status=live}} He was assigned to the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks prior to the start of the 2021 season and moved to the shortstop position.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Prospect-Pedro-Leon-Astros-AA-Corpus-Christi-Hooks-16142226.php|title=Touted prospect Pedro Leon to start career with Astros' Class AA Corpus Christi Hooks|work=Houston Chronicle|date=April 30, 2021|access-date=May 15, 2021|archive-date=May 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210515170107/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Prospect-Pedro-Leon-Astros-AA-Corpus-Christi-Hooks-16142226.php|url-status=live |last1=Rome |first1=Chandler }} In June 2021, León was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Prospect-Pedro-Leon-represent-Astros-Futures-Game-16284371.php|title=Top prospect Pedro Leon lone representative for Astros at Futures Game|first=Chandler|last=Rome|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=June 30, 2021|access-date=July 20, 2021|archive-date=July 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210720142100/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/Prospect-Pedro-Leon-represent-Astros-Futures-Game-16284371.php|url-status=live}} He was promoted to the Triple-A Sugar Land Skeeters on July 19, 2021, after batting .249 with nine home runs and 33 RBI with Corpus Christi.{{cite web|url=https://www.kristv.com/sports/hooks-star-pedro-leon-called-up-to-triple-a|title=Hooks star Pedro León called up to Triple-A|first=Jeff|last=Dubrof|website=KRISTV.com|date=July 19, 2021|access-date=July 20, 2021|archive-date=July 19, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210719214822/https://www.kristv.com/sports/hooks-star-pedro-leon-called-up-to-triple-a|url-status=live}}

León was named to the Astros' 2022 spring training roster as a non-roster invitee.{{cite news|url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/astros/article/non-roster-invitees-Astros-spring-training-camp-16997376.php|title=Korey Lee, Pedro León, Hunter Brown among non-roster invitees to Astros spring camp|work=Houston Chronicle|date=March 12, 2022 |last1=Rome |first1=Chandler }} He was assigned to the Triple-A Sugar Land Space Cowboys, where he spent the entire season. In 115 games with the team, León slashed .228/.365/.431 with 17 home runs, 63 RBI, and 38 stolen bases.

On January 20, 2023, it was announced that León had undergone sports hernia surgery. The recovery timetable was 6–8 weeks, causing León to miss major league Spring Training.{{Cite web|title=Astros' Pedro Leon: Undergoes sports hernia surgery|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/astros-pedro-leon-undergoes-sports-hernia-surgery/amp/|access-date=2023-01-21|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In a June 24 game against the Salt Lake Bees, León hit for the cycle. The feat became the first cycle in Space Cowboys history, as the team won the game 21–6.{{Cite news|title=Houston Astros Prospect Makes Sugar Land History on Saturday Night|url=https://www.si.com/mlb/astros/news/houston-astros-prospect-makes-sugar-land-history-saturday-night|access-date=July 12, 2023|newspaper=Sports Illustrated Inside the Astros|language=en}} In 128 games for Sugar Land in 2023, León slashed .244/.343/.435 with 21 home runs, 72 RBI, and 21 stolen bases.

León began the 2024 campaign back with Sugar Land, playing in 93 games and batting .297/.377/.519 with 19 home runs, 74 RBI, and 23 stolen bases. On July 30, 2024, he was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.{{cite web | last=Kawahara | first=Matt | title=Astros call up outfielder Pedro León for long-anticipated debut | website=Houston Chronicle | date=2024-07-30 | url=https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/astros/article/pedro-leon-outfield-prospect-called-up-19607825.php | access-date=2024-10-26}} He appeared in a total of seven games for the Astros in 2024, going 2-for-20, scored 2 runs, stole 2 bases, drew 1 walk and 10 strikeouts.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/l/leonpe01.shtml |title=Pedro León stats, height, weight, position, rookie status & more |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 13, 2024}}

León's 2024 regular season batting at Sugar Land culminated with .299/.372/.514/.886, 25 doubles, 24 home runs, 90 RBI, 29 stolen bases, 43 bases on balls, and 144 strikeouts over 118 games.{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=leon--000ped |title=Pedro León Cuban, fall, minor, and winter league statistics |work=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=October 25, 2024}} Named to the PCL Triple-A All-Star team,{{cite news |last=Avallone |first=Michael |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/minor-league-baseball-triple-a-all-stars-and-award-winners-2024 |title=Here are the 2024 Triple-A All-Stars and award winners |work=MLB.com |date=October 2, 2024 |access-date=October 22, 2024}} he was also a member of Sugar Land's first-ever Triple-A championship team, defeating the Omaha Storm Chasers, 13–6.{{cite newspaper |last=Malcom |first=Timothy |url=https://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/sugar-land-space-cowboys-championship-19801569.php |title=Sugar Land Space Cowboys win Triple-A crown, capping outstanding season |work=Houston Chronicle |date=September 29, 2024 |access-date=October 3, 2024}}

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Category:1998 births

Category:Living people

Category:Baseball players from Mayabeque Province

Category:Cangrejeros de Santurce (baseball) players

Category:Corpus Christi Hooks players

Category:Criollos de Caguas players

Category:Florida Complex League Astros players

Category:Glendale Desert Dogs players

Category:Houston Astros players

Category:Major League Baseball outfielders

Category:Major League Baseball players from Cuba

Category:21st-century Cuban sportsmen

Category:Sugar Land Skeeters players

Category:Sugar Land Space Cowboys players