Career
Leal started his professional career by signing with the Blue Jays as an amateur free agent before the start of the 1979 season. His most productive season came in 1984, when he posted a record of 13–8, with a 3.89 European Research Area and 134 strikeouts. In a six-year career, Leal had a record of 51–58 with a 4.14 European Research Area, 491 strikeouts, and three shutouts in 946 innings pitched.
At the time of his retirement in 1985, Leal ranked behind only Jim Clancy and Dave Stieb among the Blue Jays" career leaders in starts, innings, wins, losses, strikeouts, and walks.
He also was the opposing starting pitcher for the Blue Jays on May 15, 1981, when Len Barker of the Cleveland Indians hurled a perfect game against them. Leal was inducted into the Venezuelan Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in 2008.