ARLINGTON, Texas — Jack Leiter is getting his chance.
The Texas Rangers pitching prospect, who was drafted 2nd overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, is being called up to the majors to start Thursday against the Detroit Tigers.
Leiter is ranked eighth among Rangers prospects, according to MLB.com, but perhaps no other current Texas prospect has had higher expectations.
Leiter, the son of former big-leaguer Al Leiter, signed for $7.92 million after a decorated college career at Vanderbilt, where he mowed through the SEC and led the Commodores to the College World Series. But Leiter struggled in his first two professional seasons in the minors, mostly with his control. Across 2022 and 2023, he issued 105 walks in 177.2 innings, carrying an earned run average above 5.00.
But he was sharper in spring training, and that carried into his first two starts at Triple-A Round Rock, where he's thrown 14.1 innings to a 3.77 ERA, including 25 strikeouts and just three walks.
Whether the Rangers view Leiter as a longer-term roster addition or a spot starter for now, remains to be seen. Texas' starting rotation was already dealing with a bevy of injuries heading into the season, and then starter Cody Bradford was placed on the 15-day injured list after his start against the Astros last week.
The Rangers beat the Tigers 1-0 in Detroit on Monday night ahead of day games Tuesday and Wednesday, also against the Tigers. Dane Dunning was getting the start on the mound for Texas on Wednesday.
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