Pedro Leon

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.