Leon will not be the backup backstop to open the season for Atlanta. That honor will likely go to Chadwick Tromp with Drake Baldwin expected to catch until Sean Murphy (ribs) is ready to go around May.

León, who turns 36 years old next spring, continues to hang around on the periphery of the big leagues as emergency catching depth. He didn’t appear in the majors last season, but got into 21 contests for the Rangers during the 2023 campaign. He’s appeared in 554 games at the highest level dating back to 2012. With top prospect Drake Baldwin ready to ascend to Atlanta, León figures to open the year at Triple-A Gwinnett.

León spent spring training with the Royals as a non-roster invitee. The 35-year-old comes to Atlanta to beef up the team’s depth at catcher since Sean Murphy was put on the injured list with an oblique injury.

Leon was in Royals camp this spring as a non-roster invitee. The 35-year-old veteran journeyman should be able to latch on somewhere else as emergency catching depth.