Texas Rangers Prospect Shines in Return to Mound

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Jack Leiter is back after more than a month on the organization's developmental list.

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Jack Leiter is back and pitched well in his return to Double-A Frisco on Sunday against Midland.

Leiter, the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2021, had been on the Rangers development list for more than a month after an outing against Midland on July 7. That game, he threw 1/3 inning and gave up five hits, six runs and two walks. The Rangers activated him before Sunday’s game.

Against Midland on Sunday? Leiter pitched three innings, giving up three hits, one earned run and no walks. He also struck out four.

That represents progress for Leiter, who has spent the last month working on refining his delivery and approach. That also included a live batting practice session against a couple of Rangers players during the team’s last homestand.

The Rangers want Leiter focused on limiting his walks, which has limited his ability to move up the organization’s ladder. He’s been at Double-A Frisco since he started pitching professionally in 2022.

Leiter’s performance in the minors has been uneven. In 38 career games (37 starts) at Frisco, he is 5-15 with a 5.53 ERA. He’s thrown 158 innings, giving up 144 hits and 111 runs (97 earned).

He’s struck out 194 and walked 99, and the free passes are of primary concern. He’s allowing more than five walks per nine innings, and even though he’s striking out more than 11 batters per nine, the walks are hurting his effectiveness.

While on the developmental list, Leiter has been working in the Rangers’ new pitching biomechanics lab out in Surprise, Ariz., and with minor league pitching coordinator Jordan Tiegs. The Rangers didn’t put a timetable on his return.

It’s not clear when Leiter will pitch again. Typically, minor league starters throw once per week. So, assuming Leiter has no issues after his appearance on Sunday, he’ll likely pitch again for the RoughRiders in their next series at home against Corpus Christi, which starts on Tuesday.

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You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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