Rangers Calling up Top Prospect Jack Leiter
The Texas Rangers announced they are calling up top prospect and former 2021 second-overall pick Jack Lieter to the big leagues. The former Vanderbilt Commodore has a 1-1 record with a 3.77 ERA and a 0.977 WHIP at Triple-A Round Rock this season. His total of three minor league seasons since being drafted has been full of ups and downs, and there were even some pretty rocky roads for the 23-year-old, including pitching to a 5.19 ERA and a WHIP of nearly 1.500 in 2023, where he split time between Double-A and Triple-A.
There has never been a question about Leiter's talent, and his lineage is a testament to that. As the son of former big leaguer Al Leiter, who pitched 19 years in the MLB, he has big shoes to fill. Despite his minor-league struggles, his impressive start to the 2024 campaign has led to his call-up to the big-league roster. The anticipation is high as Leiter is set to make his much-awaited big league debut on Thursday at Comerica Park, marking the final game of an exciting series with the Detroit Tigers, which has seen two of the first three games decided by just one run.
The Rangers hope Leiter will boost their rotation, which desperately needs a fresh arm. Texas is still awaiting the season debuts of notable pitchers Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, and Tyler Mahle. Also, Cody Bradford, who started the first two weeks of his season in good shape, has also landed himself on the injured list. If Leiter is able to come out and impress in his debut on Thursday, there will definitely be a spot for him in the rotation for at least the next couple of weeks while the rest of the pitchers continue to work their way back to full health. The defending World Series champions enter Thursday’s season finale with Detroit at 10-9 on their early quest to repeat.
