Jack Leiter

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #13 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Leiter’s collegiate career was limited to just a season and change thanks to the pandemic and sophomore eligibility. Nonetheless, the Rangers selected Leiter--the son and nephew of big leaguers Al and Mark Leiter--second overall. After resting him post-draft, the Rangers assigned Leiter to Double-A to begin his pro career. He’s spent two rocky seasons at the level, where he’s struggled with command and control and made several alterations to his delivery and pitch mix.
  
  Scouting Report: Leiter made two stints on the development list in 2023. Part of the reason for those assignments was to change the way he used his lower half in his delivery. Specifically, the Rangers wanted him to keep his heel in connection with the rubber longer. They also simplified other aspects of his mechanics in an effort to help him throw more strikes and improve a walk rate that has been 10% or higher for the entirety of his career. Further improvements to the delivery were a target of his offseason work. Leiter works with a four-pitch mix, starting with a mid-90s fastball with high spin and promising life through the zone. If he can throw more strikes, it could be a plus offering. None of his offspeed pitches grade as better than average, and even his best pitch, his slider, went through a major overhaul. The pitch, which comes in around 86 mph, needs to show sharper break because the current version acts more like a cutter. If he can add some break, it has the power to get to average. Leiter’s changeup and curveball are fringe-average, and his control will have to take a big step forward to get to below-average.
  
  The Future: After two seasons spent tinkering, Leiter needs to show something in 2024. If he does, he might have a chance to fit in the back of a rotation. If not, he might have a future as a setup man.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #7 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: The son of longtime big league lefthander Al Leiter, Jack was selected in the 20th round of the 2019 draft out of high school in New Jersey but chose to attend Vanderbilt. He became an eligible sophomore after the 2021 season, which because of the pandemic was his only full season of college. The Rangers selected him second overall and let him rest after a heavy college workload. Texas assigned Leiter to Double-A to begin his pro career in 2022, and he spent the year taking his lumps against advanced hitters in the Texas League.
  
  Scouting Report: Against upper-level competition, Leiter learned which parts of his arsenal play better and which ones need more refinement. The shape of his fastball backed up considerably and proved hittable despite sitting in the mid 90s and touching 100 mph. To be more successful, he needs to use his fastball in the upper part of the strike zone, where it will play better with the rest of his mix. Leiter's best offspeed pitch is his slider, which sat in the mid 80s and got whiffs and chases at easily the highest rates of his repertoire. Leiter's big-breaking, upper 70s curveball has significant break and would pair well with his fastball if he threw the latter pitch up in the zone more often. His curve is easily recognizable out of his hand, however, and got the lowest rates of strikes, swings and chases of any pitch in his mix. Leiter's mid-80s changeup is his weakest pitch and was used sparingly. Leiter threw strikes just 59% of the time as well, leading to an elevated walk rate of 5.4 per nine innings. Lefthanded batters hit Leiter particularly hard, including eight of the 11 home runs he allowed.
  
  The Future: If Leiter can tweak his arsenal and improve his control and command, he has a chance to be a midrotation starter. If not, he might fit more toward the back of a rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 40
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #1 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: Leiter was drafted by the Yankees out of the Delbarton School in New Jersey, where he was teammates with Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ current top prospect. Leiter chose to honor his commitment to Vanderbilt, where he spent the 2021 season as arguably the most dominant pitcher in college baseball. He made national headlines on March 20 when he threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against South Carolina. He followed that performance with seven more hitless innings against Missouri in his next start, cementing his starts as appointment viewing. He finished with 179 strikeouts, tied at the top of the NCAA leaderboard with teammate Kumar Rocker. He and Rocker helped lead the Commodores to the College World Series finals, which they lost to Mississippi State. Come July, Leiter was in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick. He fell to No. 2 overall, but his $7,922,000 bonus was the fourth-highest bonus ever and the largest of the 2021 draft by more than $1 million. The bonus was the second most a pitcher has ever received in the draft, just behind the $8 million Gerrit Cole got in 2011.
  
  Scouting Report: Leiter has one of the most electric pitch packages of any prospect, led by a fastball that averages 94 mph and touches 99. The velocity, coupled with efficient spin, an elite vertical approach angle, horizontal break and carry through the zone, help the pitch play when he locates it to the upper and lower quadrants. Eventually, the Rangers believe, all those characteristics will combine to form a true plus-plus pitch. Both of Leiter’s breaking pitches—a high-70s, downer curveball and a slicing slider in the low 80s—generated plenty of swings and misses in college and project to be at least above-average pitches in pro ball, as well. Leiter completes his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup he threw just 4% of the time in college but still drew whiffs on 39% of swings. Leiter predominantly uses his fastball and curveball, and one of the first bits of his development will be to incorporate his slider and changeup more often so he can more effectively pitch to advanced hitters. The only true knock on Leiter has to do with his smaller stature and ultimate durability. He skipped one start in 2021 due to fatigue, and shorter righthanders—Leiter is listed at 6-foot-1—have long faced questions about whether they can handle the workload required of a big league starter. His height will also generate questions about whether he can generate enough angle on his pitches to avoid becoming homer-prone as a professional, something that was an issue in college. Of the 26 runs Leiter allowed in 2021, 17 came on home runs.
  
  The Future: Leiter did not pitch either in the regular season or at instructional league, though he was at the team’s camp briefly before heading back to Vanderbilt to continue working toward his degree. While there, he continued his workout regimen as if he were going to pitch in a typical college fall ball setting. For his pro debut, the Rangers are strongly considering sending Leiter straight to Double-A Frisco, where he’ll work toward achieving his ceiling as a top-end starter who can help lead the Rangers into their new era of contending in the AL West.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #3 prospect in 2021 draft
  Leiter was a first-round talent out of high school and ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the 2019 class, but a high price tag and strong Vanderbilt commitment meant he got to campus in Nashville. Draft-eligible in his second year with the Commodores, Leiter—the son of long-time big league pitcher Al Leiter—dominated in his first full season of collegiate baseball, posting a 2.12 ERA over 76.1 innings and 13 starts, while striking out 127 batters (15 K/9) and walking 34 (4.0). Known for his polish and pitchability out of high school, scouts continue to praise Leiter’s moxie on the mound, with a deep pitch mix that includes five offerings if you count a two-seam and four-seam fastball. Leiter is a shorter righthander, listed at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, but he has added strength to his frame since high school, particularly in his lower half. This spring, Leiter has primarily worked with a fastball, curveball, slider combination. His fastball has been up to 98 mph, but averages 93-95 mph, with excellent carry that generates plenty of whiffs in the zone and above it. Teams love the metrics on Leiter’s fastball, and the combination of his size, extension and carry on the pitch allow it to play up, even when he’s sitting in the 90-93 mph range. His curveball is his best secondary offering now, an upper-70s, 12-to-6 downer that he lands consistently in the zone when he wants but can also bury for a put-away pitch. Leiter throws a slider in the low 80s that has less depth but might wind up being a better out-of-the-zone chase offering and he also infrequently throws a mid-80s changeup that scouts loved out of high school and could become an above-average secondary with more reps. Durability was the one concern scouts had with Leiter, and while he did post most weeks throughout the season, he skipped one start to manage fatigue and at times was a bit homer-prone. While Leiter might not project as an ace, scouts see a pitcher who should fit in a No. 2 or No. 3 role and pitch in the big leagues for a long time.
• Ranked #21 prospect in 2019 draft
  The son of former 19-year major league lefthander, Al Leiter, Jack is arguably the most polished pitcher in the 2019 prep class. Standing at just 6 feet, 191 pounds, Leiter isn't the most physically imposing and he doesn't have the biggest pure stuff, but he has an advanced feel for pitching with confidence in each of his offerings. A first-team Preseason All-American, scouting directors also voted Leiter as having the best command of the 2019 class with an up-tempo delivery and a starter's arm action. Leiter uses both a four-seam and two-seam fastball, and his heater gets up into the 94-95 mph range early in outings before sitting comfortably in the low 90s. His curveball is his best offering and one of the better breaking balls in the entire high school class, as the mid-70s pitch ranges in shape from a true, 12-to-6 downer to a three-quarter breaking ball. Leiter can land the pitch, which features a spin rate in the 2,600 to 2,700 rpm range, for strikes in the zone or bury it for swings and misses as a chase pitch. He'll also throw in a slider, which has tighter spin but less depth than his curveball, in the low 80s. The slider is more of an average offering while the curveball looks like a plus pitch. Additionally, Leiter has a low-80s changeup that is among the best in the class. Committed to Vanderbilt, Leiter is expected to be a difficult sign.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #25 prospect in 2022

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: The son of longtime big league lefthander Al Leiter, Jack was selected in the 20th round of the 2019 draft out of high school in New Jersey but chose to attend Vanderbilt. He became an eligible sophomore after the 2021 season, which because of the pandemic was his only full season of college. The Rangers selected him second overall and let him rest after a heavy college workload. Texas assigned Leiter to Double-A to begin his pro career in 2022, and he spent the year taking his lumps against advanced hitters in the Texas League.
  
  Scouting Report: Against upper-level competition, Leiter learned which parts of his arsenal play better and which ones need more refinement. The shape of his fastball backed up considerably and proved hittable despite sitting in the mid 90s and touching 100 mph. To be more successful, he needs to use his fastball in the upper part of the strike zone, where it will play better with the rest of his mix. Leiter's best offspeed pitch is his slider, which sat in the mid 80s and got whiffs and chases at easily the highest rates of his repertoire. Leiter's big-breaking, upper 70s curveball has significant break and would pair well with his fastball if he threw the latter pitch up in the zone more often. His curve is easily recognizable out of his hand, however, and got the lowest rates of strikes, swings and chases of any pitch in his mix. Leiter's mid-80s changeup is his weakest pitch and was used sparingly. Leiter threw strikes just 59% of the time as well, leading to an elevated walk rate of 5.4 per nine innings. Lefthanded batters hit Leiter particularly hard, including eight of the 11 home runs he allowed.
  
  The Future: If Leiter can tweak his arsenal and improve his control and command, he has a chance to be a midrotation starter. If not, he might fit more toward the back of a rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 40
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Very High
  
  Track Record: The son of longtime big league lefthander Al Leiter, Jack was selected in the 20th round of the 2019 draft out of high school in New Jersey but chose to attend Vanderbilt. He became an eligible sophomore after the 2021 season, which because of the pandemic was his only full season of college. The Rangers selected him second overall and let him rest after a heavy college workload. Texas assigned Leiter to Double-A to begin his pro career in 2022, and he spent the year taking his lumps against advanced hitters in the Texas League.
  
  Scouting Report: Against upper-level competition, Leiter learned which parts of his arsenal play better and which ones need more refinement. The shape of his fastball backed up considerably and proved hittable despite sitting in the mid 90s and touching 100 mph. To be more successful, he needs to use his fastball in the upper part of the strike zone, where it will play better with the rest of his mix. Leiter's best offspeed pitch is his slider, which sat in the mid 80s and got whiffs and chases at easily the highest rates of his repertoire. Leiter's big-breaking, upper 70s curveball has significant break and would pair well with his fastball if he threw the latter pitch up in the zone more often. His curve is easily recognizable out of his hand, however, and got the lowest rates of strikes, swings and chases of any pitch in his mix. Leiter's mid-80s changeup is his weakest pitch and was used sparingly. Leiter threw strikes just 59% of the time as well, leading to an elevated walk rate of 5.4 per nine innings. Lefthanded batters hit Leiter particularly hard, including eight of the 11 home runs he allowed.
  
  The Future: If Leiter can tweak his arsenal and improve his control and command, he has a chance to be a midrotation starter. If not, he might fit more toward the back of a rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 60. Changeup: 45. Control: 40
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 60/High
  
  Track Record: Leiter was drafted by the Yankees out of the Delbarton School in New Jersey, where he was teammates with Anthony Volpe, the Yankees&#39 current top prospect. Leiter chose to honor his commitment to Vanderbilt, where he spent the 2021 season as arguably the most dominant pitcher in college baseball. He made national headlines on March 20 when he threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against South Carolina. He followed that performance with seven more hitless innings against Missouri in his next start, cementing his starts as appointment viewing. He finished with 179 strikeouts, tied at the top of the NCAA leaderboard with teammate Kumar Rocker. He and Rocker helped lead the Commodores to the College World Series finals, which they lost to Mississippi State. Come July, Leiter was in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick. He fell to No. 2 overall, but his $7,922,000 bonus was the fourth-highest bonus ever and the largest of the 2021 draft by more than $1 million. The draft bonus is the second most a pitcher has ever received, just behind the $8 million Gerrit Cole got in 2011.
  
  Scouting Report: Leiter had one of the most electric pitch packages in the country, led by a fastball that averaged 94 mph and touched 99. The velocity, coupled with efficient spin, an elite vertical approach angle, horizontal break and carry through the zone, helped the pitch play when located to upper and lower quadrants. Eventually, the Rangers believe, all those characteristics will combine to form a true plus-plus pitch. Both of Leiter&#39s breaking pitches—a high-70s, downer curveball and a slicing slider in the low 80s—were excellent and generated plenty of swings and misses while with the Commodores. Leiter completes his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup he threw just 4% of the time but still drew whiffs on 39% of swings. Leiter predominantly used his fastball and curveball in college, and one of the first bits of his development will be to incorporate his slider and changeup more often so he can more effectively pitch to advanced hitters. The only true knock on Leiter as an amateur had to do with his smaller stature and ultimate durability. He skipped one start in 2021 due to fatigue, and shorter righthanders—Leiter is listed at 6-foot-1—have long faced questions about whether they can handle the workload required of a big league starter. His height will also generate questions about whether he can generate enough angle on his pitches to avoid becoming homer prone as a professional, something that was an issue in college. Of the 26 runs Leiter allowed in 2021, 17 came on home runs.
  
  The Future: Leiter did not pitch either in the regular season or at instructional league, though he was at the team&#39s camp briefly before heading back to Vanderbilt to continue working toward his degree. While there, he continued his workout regimen as if he were going to pitch in a typical college fall ball setting. For his pro debut, the Rangers are strongly considering sending Leiter to Double-A Frisco, where he&#39ll work toward achieving his ceiling as a top-end starter who can help lead the Rangers into their new era of contending in the AL West.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70. Curveball: 60. Slider: 55. Changeup: 55. Control: 50.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Leiter was drafted by the Yankees out of the Delbarton School in New Jersey, where he was teammates with Anthony Volpe, the Yankees’ current top prospect. Leiter chose to honor his commitment to Vanderbilt, where he spent the 2021 season as arguably the most dominant pitcher in college baseball. He made national headlines on March 20 when he threw a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against South Carolina. He followed that performance with seven more hitless innings against Missouri in his next start, cementing his starts as appointment viewing. He finished with 179 strikeouts, tied at the top of the NCAA leaderboard with teammate Kumar Rocker. He and Rocker helped lead the Commodores to the College World Series finals, which they lost to Mississippi State. Come July, Leiter was in the mix for the No. 1 overall pick. He fell to No. 2 overall, but his $7,922,000 bonus was the fourth-highest bonus ever and the largest of the 2021 draft by more than $1 million. The bonus was the second most a pitcher has ever received in the draft, just behind the $8 million Gerrit Cole got in 2011.
  
  Scouting Report: Leiter has one of the most electric pitch packages of any prospect, led by a fastball that averages 94 mph and touches 99. The velocity, coupled with efficient spin, an elite vertical approach angle, horizontal break and carry through the zone, help the pitch play when he locates it to the upper and lower quadrants. Eventually, the Rangers believe, all those characteristics will combine to form a true plus-plus pitch. Both of Leiter’s breaking pitches—a high-70s, downer curveball and a slicing slider in the low 80s—generated plenty of swings and misses in college and project to be at least above-average pitches in pro ball, as well. Leiter completes his arsenal with a mid-80s changeup he threw just 4% of the time in college but still drew whiffs on 39% of swings. Leiter predominantly uses his fastball and curveball, and one of the first bits of his development will be to incorporate his slider and changeup more often so he can more effectively pitch to advanced hitters. The only true knock on Leiter has to do with his smaller stature and ultimate durability. He skipped one start in 2021 due to fatigue, and shorter righthanders—Leiter is listed at 6-foot-1—have long faced questions about whether they can handle the workload required of a big league starter. His height will also generate questions about whether he can generate enough angle on his pitches to avoid becoming homer-prone as a professional, something that was an issue in college. Of the 26 runs Leiter allowed in 2021, 17 came on home runs.
  
  The Future: Leiter did not pitch either in the regular season or at instructional league, though he was at the team’s camp briefly before heading back to Vanderbilt to continue working toward his degree. While there, he continued his workout regimen as if he were going to pitch in a typical college fall ball setting. For his pro debut, the Rangers are strongly considering sending Leiter straight to Double-A Frisco, where he’ll work toward achieving his ceiling as a top-end starter who can help lead the Rangers into their new era of contending in the AL West.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Leiter was a first-round talent out of high school and ranked as the No. 21 prospect in the 2019 class, but a high price tag and strong Vanderbilt commitment meant he got to campus in Nashville. Draft-eligible in his second year with the Commodores, Leiter—the son of long-time big league pitcher Al Leiter—dominated in his first full season of collegiate baseball, posting a 2.12 ERA over 76.1 innings and 13 starts, while striking out 127 batters (15 K/9) and walking 34 (4.0). Known for his polish and pitchability out of high school, scouts continue to praise Leiter's moxie on the mound, with a deep pitch mix that includes five offerings if you count a two-seam and four-seam fastball. Leiter is a shorter righthander, listed at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, but he has added strength to his frame since high school, particularly in his lower half. This spring, Leiter has primarily worked with a fastball, curveball, slider combination. His fastball has been up to 98 mph, but averages 93-95 mph, with excellent carry that generates plenty of whiffs in the zone and above it. Teams love the metrics on Leiter's fastball, and the combination of his size, extension and carry on the pitch allow it to play up, even when he's sitting in the 90-93 mph range. His curveball is his best secondary offering now, an upper-70s, 12-to-6 downer that he lands consistently in the zone when he wants but can also bury for a put-away pitch. Leiter throws a slider in the low 80s that has less depth but might wind up being a better out-of-the-zone chase offering and he also infrequently throws a mid-80s changeup that scouts loved out of high school and could become an above-average secondary with more reps. Durability was the one concern scouts had with Leiter, and while he did post most weeks throughout the season, he skipped one start to manage fatigue and at times was a bit homer-prone. While Leiter might not project as an ace, scouts see a pitcher who should fit in a No. 2 or No. 3 role and pitch in the big leagues for a long time.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  The son of former 19-year major league lefthander, Al Leiter, Jack is arguably the most polished pitcher in the 2019 prep class. Standing at just 6 feet, 191 pounds, Leiter isn't the most physically imposing and he doesn't have the biggest pure stuff, but he has an advanced feel for pitching with confidence in each of his offerings. A first-team Preseason All-American, scouting directors also voted Leiter as having the best command of the 2019 class with an up-tempo delivery and a starter's arm action. Leiter uses both a four-seam and two-seam fastball, and his heater gets up into the 94-95 mph range early in outings before sitting comfortably in the low 90s. His curveball is his best offering and one of the better breaking balls in the entire high school class, as the mid-70s pitch ranges in shape from a true, 12-to-6 downer to a three-quarter breaking ball. Leiter can land the pitch, which features a spin rate in the 2,600 to 2,700 rpm range, for strikes in the zone or bury it for swings and misses as a chase pitch. He'll also throw in a slider, which has tighter spin but less depth than his curveball, in the low 80s. The slider is more of an average offering while the curveball looks like a plus pitch. Additionally, Leiter has a low-80s changeup that is among the best in the class. Committed to Vanderbilt, Leiter is expected to be a difficult sign.