Jack Leiter
Texas Rangers
Pitcher
Born: (2000-04-21) April 21, 2000
Plantation, Florida
Bats: Right
Throws: Right

Jack Thomas Leiter (born April 21, 2000) is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Texas Rangers organization. He played college baseball for the Vanderbilt Commodores and was selected by the Rangers with the second overall pick of the 2021 MLB draft.

Amateur career

Raised in Summit, New Jersey, Leiter attended Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, where he played baseball and was teammates with Anthony Volpe.[1][2] In July 2018, he played in the 2018 Under Armour All-America Baseball Game.[3] In December, he played on the USA Baseball 18U National Team in Panama City during the 2018 COPABE Pan-American Championships, helping Team USA win a gold medal.[4] As a senior at Delbarton in 2019, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of New Jersey.[5][6] At the time of his selection, he was 6–0 with a 0.54 ERA while also batting .364.[7] Leiter was considered a top prospect for the 2019 Major League Baseball draft, but due to his strong commitment to Vanderbilt University, was not selected until the 20th round by the New York Yankees.[8][9][10] He did not sign and instead enrolled at Vanderbilt to play college baseball.[11][12]

In his college debut on February 18, 2020, Leiter pitched five no-hit innings while striking out 12, leading Vanderbilt to a 3–0 victory over the University of South Alabama.[13][14][15] He was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Co-Freshman of the Week following the performance.[16][17] Over 152⁄3 innings, Leiter went 2–0 with a 1.72 ERA before the college baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[18] As a redshirt freshman in 2021, Leiter returned as a member of Vanderbilt's starting rotation.[19] On March 20, 2021, he pitched a no-hitter in his SEC debut against South Carolina, compiling sixteen strikeouts.[20] In his next start, he pitched seven no-hit innings against Missouri.[21] He was named the SEC Newcomer of the Year alongside being selected a consensus first-team All-American.[22][23] He helped lead Vanderbilt to the 2021 College World Series finals and was named to the All-Tournament team.[24] Leiter ended the 2021 season having started 18 games, in which he compiled an 11–4 record, a 2.13 ERA, and 179 strikeouts over 110 innings.[25] He was named the Baseball America 2021 Freshman of the Year.[26]

Professional career

Leiter was selected by the Texas Rangers with the second overall selection in the 2021 Major League Baseball draft.[27][28][29] Leiter signed with Texas on July 28, 2021, receiving a $7.92 million signing bonus.[30][31] Leiter attended an organization draftee orientation at the Rangers spring training complex after signing, but did not appear in a professional game in 2021, instead choosing to return to Vanderbilt to continue college course work.[32]

Leiter opened the 2022 season with the Frisco RoughRiders of the Double-A Texas League.[33] He made his professional debut on April 9, going three innings while allowing one run and striking out seven batters.[34][35] He was selected to represent the Rangers at the 2022 All-Star Futures Game.[36] Over 23 games (22 starts) with Frisco, Leiter went 3–10 with a 5.54 ERA, 56 walks, and 109 strikeouts over 92+2⁄3 innings.[37] He received a non-roster invitation to major league spring training in 2023,[38] and returned to Frisco to open the season.[39] Leiter once again struggled in 2023, including spending almost two months out of game action on the development list.[40] With Frisco, he went 2–6 with a 5.06 ERA and 110 strikeouts over 81+1⁄3 innings.[41] He finished the 2023 season with one start for the Round Rock Express of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League.[42]

Personal life

Leiter's father, Al Leiter, pitched in MLB for 19 seasons.[43] His uncle Mark Leiter also played in MLB, and his cousin, Mark Leiter Jr., currently plays professional baseball.[44]

References

  1. ↑ Rosenstein, Mike. "MLB Draft 2021: N.J.’s Jack Leiter, son of ex-Yankees, Mets pitcher Al Leiter, tumbles in latest ranking of top prospects", NJ.com, May 13, 2021. Accessed May 13, 2021. "Leiter, the Summit, N.J. native who played high school ball for the Delbarton School in Morristown, is 7-2 this season with a 2.10 ERA in 11 starts."
  2. ↑ NJ.com, Joe Zedalis | NJ Advance Media for (June 6, 2019). "HS teammates & Yankees' draftees: Volpe & Leiter's paired baseball journeys roll on". nj. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  3. ↑ "2018 Under Armour All-America Road to Wrigley - Jack Leiter". Baseball Factory. July 11, 2018. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Witt Jr., Leiter lead Team USA to 8th straight 18U title". MLB.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Get Access". Daily Record. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "DELBARTON SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE NAMEDGATORADE NEW JERSEY BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Delbarton duo Leiter, Volpe could be selected in first round of MLB Draft". USA TODAY High School Sports. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  9. ↑ Havsy, Jane. "New York Yankees select Delbarton pitcher Jack Leiter, son of Al Leiter". Daily Record. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  10. ↑ "Yanks pick Leiter's son". MLB.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  11. ↑ Sparks, Adam. "Al Leiter's son reportedly turns down MLB to play for Vanderbilt baseball". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  12. ↑ NJ.com, Joe Zedalis | NJ Advance Media for (June 5, 2019). "Baseball: Delbarton's Jack Leiter tells MLB clubs he is going to Vanderbilt". nj. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  13. ↑ Sparks, Adam. "Jack Leiter tosses five no-hit innings, strikes out 12 in Vanderbilt baseball debut". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Jack Leiter: Ex-MLB star's son strikes out 12 in college debut". UPI. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  15. ↑ Botte, Peter (February 19, 2020). "Jack Leiter, Al Leiter's son, absolutely dominated in Vanderbilt debut". New York Post. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Vanderbilt's Leiter Named Conference SO-Freshman of the Week". SI.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Leiter, Brennan earn conference pitching honors". Nashville Post. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Vanderbilt's Jack Leiter Making Plans for the Summer". SI.com. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Vandy's Leiter dominates -- again". MLB.com.
  20. ↑ Terranova, Rob (March 20, 2021). "Leiter K's 16 in complete-game no-hitter". mlb.com. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Vandy's Jack Leiter follows no-no with 7 more hitless innings in win vs. Missouri". ESPN. March 27, 2021. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
  22. ↑ Joe Healy &, Teddy Cahill. "2021 College Baseball All-Americans: First, Second, Third Teams". Baseball America. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  23. ↑ Gerson, Aria. "Leiter, Rocker, Bradfield headline All-SEC selections for Vanderbilt baseball". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  24. ↑ Gerson, Aria. "Texas Rangers select Jack Leiter of Vanderbilt baseball with No. 2 pick in 2021 MLB Draft". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  25. ↑ Rosenstein, Mike (June 29, 2021). "MLB Draft 2021: N.J.'s Jack Leiter, son of ex-Yankees, Mets pitcher Al Leiter, goes out a winner at College World Series". NJ.com. Retrieved July 17, 2021.
  26. ↑ Cahill, Teddy (August 17, 2021). "Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter Become First Teammates To Win Player, Freshman Of The Year In Same Season". Baseball America. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  27. ↑ Braziller, Zach (July 11, 2021). "Jack Leiter goes second overall by Rangers in 2021 MLB Draft". New York Post. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  28. ↑ Prieto, Victor. "Jack Leiter joins exclusive Vanderbilt baseball company after being drafted 2nd overall by Texas Rangers". The Tennessean. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  29. ↑ "How Texas Rangers pick Jack Leiter became the best pitcher of the 2021 MLB draft". Dallas News. July 11, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  30. ↑ "Texas Rangers sign Jack Leiter as No. 2 overall pick reportedly gets $7.9 million bonus". CBSSports.com. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  31. ↑ Kelly, Matt (July 28, 2021). "No. 2 overall pick Leiter signs with Rangers". MLB.com. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  32. ↑ Grant, Evan (July 28, 2021). "'You're the guy': Rangers sign No. 2 pick Jack Leiter, giving clearer picture of Texas' future". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  33. ↑ "Rangers Release RoughRiders 2022 Break Camp Roster". MiLB.com. March 31, 2022. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  34. ↑ Weaver, Levi (April 9, 2022). "Jack Leiter's pro debut lived up to the hype, even if it was only 3 innings". The Athletic. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  35. ↑ Sheehan, Stephanie (April 9, 2022). "'Long time coming': Leiter strikes out 7 in pro debut". MLB.com. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  36. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (July 7, 2022). "Here are the 2022 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  37. ↑ "Jack Leiter Stats, Fantasy & News".
  38. ↑ Postins, Matthew (January 28, 2023). "Rangers Invite Top Prospects to Spring Training". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved February 1, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Rangers' Jack Leiter: Repeating Double-A level". cbssports.com. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Rangers' Jack Leiter: Returns to development list". CBSSports.com. July 15, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  41. ↑ Landry, Kennedi. "Heralded prospect Leiter showing 'real improvement'". MLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  42. ↑ "Texas Rangers Prospect RHP Jack Leiter Promoted to Round Rock". MiLB.com. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  43. ↑ Braziller, Zach (June 2, 2019). "Jack Leiter shares dad's gifts but may choose own road to majors". New York Post. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  44. ↑ "Mark Leiter Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved December 26, 2017.
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