The Rangers, down yet another arm thanks to Cody Bradford hitting the IL, are set to call up one of their best prospects, Jack Leiter, for his MLB debut. The move comes nearly three years after Leiter was drafted by Texas and an inconsistent Minor League career. Here’s a look at Leiter.
A Look at Leiter
Rangers pitching prospect Jack Leiter has been on the radar for years, dating back to his days as a New Jersey prep pitcher and teammate of now-Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe.
Leiter opted to forego the pros in 2019 and went to Vanderbilt, where he starred for two seasons before being selected second overall by Texas in 2021. Since then, it’s been an uneven ride for the son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter.
The 23-year-old has very impressive stuff, thanks to an arsenal that includes a mid-90s fastball — although not the triple digits he hit with Vanderbilt — with good IVB (16.8” of IVB in Triple-A), an above-average slider, as well as a changeup and slider. His stuff allowed him to get off to an impressive start in Triple-A this season, as he struck out 25 over 14.1 IP and walked just three.
The low walk total is a very positive sign for the Rangers, as Leiter’s command and mechanics have been a known issue. The righty spent a good chunk on the development list in 2023 to fine-tune his mechanics, as Leiter has had trouble repeating his delivery as a pro.
Per reports, Jack Leiter will make his MLB debut with the Rangers on April 18 against the Tigers.
Analysis
It’s a callup that’s been years in the making, albeit one that involved a lot of work on Leiter’s part.
Even though Leiter, who ranked #8 in the Rangers’ prospect list per MLB.com, has seen his star drop a bit, the stuff has always been there. And given that Leiter’s done a better job of hitting his spots in 2024, he’s certainly earned the confidence of the Rangers’ staff.
“What a great time to call him up because he’s been throwing well, and again, he’s earned this,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said of Leiter.
With several notable arms, including Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle, and now Cody Bradford on the IL, the reigning World Series champions are relying on their in-house depth to get them through the first half. Leiter becomes the next man up.
Fantasy Outlook
Leiter is in a unique position, given his prospect pedigree and presence on a strong Rangers team. The 23-year-old is worth a look in both AL-only and mixed leagues.