José De León had not taken a big league mound as a starting pitcher since the 2016 season, a year in which the then-touted Los Angeles Dodgers prospect was angling for a big time spot in that club’s burgeoning rotation. Of course, a trade to a promising Tampa club later ensued, but a series of injuries kept setting him back, ultimately sending him under the knife for Tommy John surgery.
When he landed with the Cincinnati Reds in an under-the-radar trade after the 2019 season, the hope was his arm would get a chance to round back into form under the tutelage of Derek Johnson and Kyle Boddy.