Former MLB pitcher José DeLeón, who enjoyed a 13-season career across five teams, has passed away at the age of 63 after battling undisclosed health issues.
DeLeón’s demise was confirmed by his Dominican Winter League team, Los Leones del Escogido, stating that he succumbed to health complications on Sunday at a hospital in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. While specifics about his health struggles were not disclosed, DeLeón had been grappling with significant health challenges.
Born in the Dominican Republic, DeLeón ventured into Major League Baseball in 1983 with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Throughout his initial decade in the majors, he consistently made around 25 starts per season, showcasing his prowess on the mound. Notably, in 1989, he led the National League in strikeouts with an impressive total of 201 while playing for the St. Louis Cardinals.
However, as the 1993 season progressed, DeLeón transitioned into a relief role, with fewer starting opportunities. He appeared in 35 games that season, starting only three, split between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Chicago White Sox. The latter part of his career saw him primarily serving as a reliever.
DeLeón’s MLB journey spanned various teams, including the Pirates, Cardinals, White Sox, Phillies, and Montreal Expos, from 1983 to 1995. Over the course of his career, he amassed 1,594 strikeouts in 415 appearances. Despite his long tenure in the league, he only made one postseason appearance in 1993, contributing solid performances across two games.
