CLEVELAND – José De León called it the best early birthday gift he could ask for. One day before he turned 28, De León was back in the Major Leagues.
The Cincinnati Reds added De León to their bullpen Thursday, and they designated lefty Brooks Raley for assignment to create room on the roster. De León will wear No. 87, a number he's worn since he was a kid to commemorate his birthday, Aug. 7.
“When I was in my first camp with the Dodgers, they said that I was going to get number 67, and I was like, ‘You know, it’s my first one.