Pedro Leon

24-Year-Old OutfielderOF
Houston Astros AAA
2023 Fantasy Outlook
Leon has the physical tools to play every day and be a valuable fantasy asset, he just needs to hit enough. The 5-foot-10 center fielder has a rare combination of plus power and plus speed, ranking near the top of the minors in 90th percentile exit velocity, per Prospects Live, with middling zone contact and chase tendencies. He just needs to have a 45- or 50-grade hit tool to be a fantasy monster who capitalizes on the Crawford Boxes en route to 25-plus homers to go with 20-plus steals, but his 64.9% contact rate at Triple-A is pretty troubling. The righty-hitting Cuban is entering his third season in the United States and will turn 25 in late-May, so there are no excuses for him to not have a productive return trip to Triple-A. Leon is talented enough to win an everyday job by season's end if the hit tool improves, and he is able to play some second base as needed in addition to all three outfield spots. Read Past Outlooks
RANKS
$Signed a $4 million contract with the Astros in January of 2021.
Plays first spring game Tuesday
OFHouston Astros  AAA
March 14, 2023
Leon (abdomen) played in his first spring game Tuesday without issue, Danielle Lerner of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
Leon appeared off the bench in the Astros' split-squad contest against the Cardinals and handled center field for the final two innings. Coming off January surgery to repair a sports hernia, the 24-year-old outfielder said his health is "in perfect condition" leading into the 2023 season. He could make his MLB debut at some point this summer.
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2022
2021
It was essentially a tale of three seasons for Leon in his first year in the United States. After not playing in official games since the 2018-19 season in Cuba, he hit .173 with a 38.8 K% in his first 20 games at Double-A. The 23-year-old center fielder/shortstop then hit .292/.414/.515 with seven home runs, eight steals, a 14.6 BB% and a 25.5 K% in his next 37 games, which included a five-game run at Triple-A, before suffering a broken pinky finger in late July. Leon returned in mid-September and hit .073 over 12 games at Triple-A and then hit .257/.381/.343 with a 20:13 K:BB in 84 plate appearances in the Arizona Fall League. He has plus raw power to the pull side, which would be an excellent fit in Houston (Leon bats right-handed), and he is also at least a plus runner. Those tools were on full display during that 37-game run after the calendar flipped to June, but it was bookended by stretches of mediocre play. His strikeout rate was high even when he was dominating, so that figures to be something that will always be a weakness, but it is encouraging that even when he was struggling late in the season, he was still running high walk rates. Despite his speed, Leon isn't a great defender at either up-the-middle position he played in his debut season, and perhaps second base could be a better fit in the coming years. It's not hyperbole to say Leon has 30/30 upside, but there's also a legitimate chance he never hits enough to be an everyday big leaguer. Look for Houston to send him back to Triple-A to get back into a groove before possibly getting a look in the majors this summer.
Leon landed a $4 million bonus from Houston on Jan. 15, 2021, and unlike most of the other top players from this international signing class, he turns 23 in May and could begin his career in the upper levels of the minors. He is a high-contact masher who already has at least plus power to the pull side. Leon has been an impatient hitter at times, so there could be a transition period as he balances making contact with waiting for a pitch he can drive. He hasn't played in competitive games in a while, but he most recently hit .383/.467/.789 with 15 home runs and seven steals (on 12 attempts) in 152 PA in the Cuban National Series in 2018-19. He was 10 years younger than the average player in the league that year. There are inconsistent reports on his run times, and at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, we shouldn't expect him to be a major threat on the bases. However, his bat should play at the highest level.
More Fantasy News
Looks to be healthy again
OFHouston Astros  AAA
March 14, 2023
Leon (abdomen) is listed as an available reserve on the lineup card Tuesday for the Astros' split-squad Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
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Undergoes sports hernia surgery
OFHouston Astros  AAA
Abdomen
January 19, 2023
Leon underwent sports hernia surgery Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
ANALYSIS
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Back in action at Triple-A
OFHouston Astros  AAA
August 29, 2022
Leon (facial fracture) went 1-for-3 with two runs, two walks and two strikeouts Sunday in his return to action for Triple-A Sugar Land.
ANALYSIS
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Sidelined with facial fracture
OFHouston Astros  AAA
Face
August 9, 2022
Leon was diagnosed Tuesday with a facial fracture and will be placed on Triple-A Sugar Land's 7-day injured list, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.
ANALYSIS
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Racks up 10 steals in 12 games
OFHouston Astros  AAA
July 13, 2022
Leon has hit .324/.519/.568 with two homers, 10 steals and an 11:9 BB:K over his last 12 games for Triple-A Sugar Land.
ANALYSIS
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