The Texas Rangers are giving the green light to one of their top pitching prospects, Jack Leiter, who will make his highly anticipated Major League Baseball debut on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers.
Leiter, who turns 24 on April 21, was the crown jewel of the Rangers’ 2021 draft class, selected with the first overall pick (second overall). Before turning pro, Leiter dominated college baseball in 2021 at Vanderbilt. He compiled an impressive 11-4 record with a stellar 2.13 earned run average. Over 110 innings, he racked up 179 strikeouts while surrendering 45 walks. Vanderbilt reached the College World Series finals that year but fell short to Mississippi State University.
The Rangers were aggressive with Leiter’s first professional assignment. They assigned him directly to Double-A Frisco to begin the 2022 season, bypassing Single-A altogether. However, his transition to pro ball wasn’t entirely smooth. He finished the year with a 3-10 record and a 5.54 ERA. Although he struck out 109 batters in 92.2 innings, he struggled with control, issuing 56 walks.
Flashes of brilliance have been overshadowed by bouts of inconsistency, particularly in his command. This trend continued in the start of the 2023 season, where he finished with a 2-6 record and a 5.19 ERA in 85 innings. While his strikeout totals remained high (114), walks continued to be a major concern (45).
However, a turning point also emerged in 2023. Leiter spent some time on the development list, and upon his return, he showcased a significant improvement in his command. Over his last four starts in Frisco (totaling 16.1 innings), he only surrendered four walks, a vast improvement.
This newfound control propelled him to Triple-A Round Rock. Although his initial outing wasn’t ideal (3.1 innings, 3 runs allowed) in 2023, his subsequent outings this season offered a glimpse of his potential. In three games with the Express, he went 1-1 with a respectable 3.77 ERA in 14.1 innings. Even more encouraging, he only issued 3 walks while striking out 25 batters.
A strong spring training combined with his recent success in Triple-A and injuries, have earned Leiter the call to the big leagues. He will become the 204th former Frisco RoughRiders player to make their Major League Debut when he takes the mound against the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
