OAKLAND, Calif. — Right-hander Arnold Leon’s long journey to the major leagues will end Wednesday when he is officially recalled from Triple-A Tacoma for the Oakland Athletics’ doubleheader against Seattle.
Leon likely will be available out of the bullpen, but there is a chance he could start the second game Wednesday. Either way, it will be a special day for Leon, whose professional career began in 2006 with Saltillo of the Mexican League at the age of 17.
Leon’s parents, Marcella and Xico, will travel from Culiacan, Mexico, to attend the doubleheader. His wife, Cynthia, and 7-month-old son, Nayar Alexander, will make the trip from Sacramento for the game.
“I’m very excited,” Leon said before Oakland’s 8-3 loss Tuesday night against Seattle. “First time in the big leagues, so it’s going to be a great moment. All my family’s going to be here. Dad, Mom, wife and kids. It’s going to be a special day.”
The A’s purchased Leon’s contract from Saltillo in 2008, and he spent six-plus seasons in their minor league system. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2010 and appeared in only three minor league games that season and five in 2011.
“It’s been a lot of time,” Leon said. “I was expecting this from the beginning when I signed with the Oakland A’s, and I didn’t know it was going to take so long. With Tommy John surgery, I feel a lot of personal success being healthy again. I’m very proud.”
A’s manager Bob Melvin said either Leon or left-hander Drew Pomeranz would start the second game Wednsday. Pomeranz didn’t make an appearance Tuesday, and Melvin hinted strongly before the game that the lefty start Game 2 on Wednesday if he didn’t pitch Tuesday.
Even if he doesn’t start, Leon likely will see action in the second game because Pomeranz’s arm isn’t stretched out to go more than four or five innings.
“Good stuff. Competes,” Melvin said of Leon. “We’ve seen his progression the last two springs. He really seemed like this spring he looked like he belonged. He was more confident throwing to big league hitters. I told him that at the end of spring, and I said, ‘You’ve put yourself in position to be a viable option for us this year,’ and here he is and well-deserved.”
Leon went 2-1 with a 4.34 ERA in six starts with Sacramento this season. In 29 innings, he struck out 22 and walked 10.