Texas Rangers Pitching Prospect Jack Leiter Makes Triple-A Debut

Jack Leiter made his first start for the Round Rock Express as the Texas Rangers' top affiliate makes a playoff push.
Texas Rangers Pitching Prospect Jack Leiter Makes Triple-A Debut
Texas Rangers Pitching Prospect Jack Leiter Makes Triple-A Debut /
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Texas Rangers pitching prospect Jack Leiter made his first start at Triple-A Round Rock last weekend as the Express wrapped up their regular season.

The Express will continue playing baseball this week after qualifying for the Pacific Coast League playoffs. So there’s a chance Leiter will get more action with the Express before the minor league season concludes.

The Express play in the PCL Championship series starting Tuesday against Oklahoma City, a former Rangers affiliate that is now part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization.

The Rangers promoted Leiter from Double-A Frisco last week when he bounced back with three solid outings after more than a month on the organization’s developmental list.

Wyatt Langford
First-round pick Wyatt Langford joined Jack Leiter on Triple-A Round Rock / Frisco RoughRiders

Leiter pitched 3 1/3 innings against the Tacoma Rainiers on Saturday, allowing eight hits and three earned runs in a 12-10 Express victory. He took a no-decision. He struck out four and walked two, but also gave up two home runs.

Leiter, the No. 5 prospect in the organization and the team’s first-round pick in 2021, has surged since he rejoined the RoughRiders after two developmental list stints to work on mechanics and to manage a walks issue that has limited his progress.

Since his return, Leiter made four starts with Frisco and limited teams to three or fewer hits in each game. He had a 3.31 ERA with 25 strikeouts and, more importantly, just four walks.

In his last Double-A start against Amarillo, he struck out nine over five innings in a 4-3 win.

The Rangers’ top hitting prospect, Wyatt Langford, was promoted to Round Rock at the same time as Leiter after spending just 12 games at Frisco, where he slashed .405/.519/.762/1.281.

In five games with Round Rock, Langford slashed .368/.538/.526/1.064.


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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for On SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.