The Texas Rangers called up pitching prospect Jack Leiter to make his major-league debut Thursday against the Detroit Tigers, the club announced Tuesday.
Leiter, the 2021 No. 2 pick, has looked like a first-rounder this season with Triple-A Round Rock. He’s posted a 3.77 ERA with 25 strikeouts and a 0.98 WHIP in 14 1/3 innings pitched. His strong start included throwing 10 strikeouts against Oklahoma City on April 12.
The right-hander ranked at No. 14 on The Athletic’s Keith Law’s list of top Rangers prospects for 2024.
Our probable starter for Thursday: @jackleiter22. pic.twitter.com/0yVdJ52w6X
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) April 16, 2024
Leiter, 23, struggled at the start of his minor-league career after two impressive seasons during his collegiate career at Vanderbilt. He went straight to Double A after being drafted and put up a 5.37 ERA in his first two seasons in the minors.
Leiter is the son of former major-league pitcher Al Leiter, who won three World Series — two with the Toronto Blue Jays and one with the Florida Marlins — and threw a no-hitter in 1996 as a member of the Marlins.
Leiter’s start Thursday will be the last contest of Texas’ four-game series against the Detroit Tigers.
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(Photo: Joe Camporeale / USA Today)
