This Orioles pitching prospect hopes to make MLB debut in 2026
VENICE, Fla. — Facing perhaps the best lineup of his life, Luis De León looked like he belonged. The Orioles’an pitching prospect found himself in a small pickle in the first inning Saturday with a runner on third, one out and the heart of the Atlanta Braves’ big league lineup due up. De León, a 22-year-old lefty who has faced only 68 batters above High-A, was suddenly facing Matt Olson and Austin Riley, a pair of mashers with five All-Star appearances between them. De León didn’t flinch. He threw a first-pitch slider to Olson to induce a weak groundout to first base. He then started Riley off with a slider and ended the eight-pitch at-bat with a 3-2 slider that spun beneath the...