Texas Rangers load up on pitching with the No. 2 overall pick, selecting Jack Leiter
The Vanderbilt right-hander went 11-4 with a 2.13 ERA this season, and struck out 179 in 110 innings.
The player who had been atop the Texas Rangers draft board for months was available for them Sunday evening at No. 2 overall.
It was Jack Leiter, the star right-hander from Vanderbilt, and no conversation the past two weeks in the draft room knocked him from that perch.
The Rangers nabbed him shortly after the Pittsburgh Pirates selected Louisville catcher Henry Davis. The Pirates were the only obstacle standing between the Rangers and a pitcher they believe will be at the top of their rotation in the not-too-distant future.
“He fits everything that we are trying to accomplish as an organization, from a player, a competitor, the talent, but most importantly the person,” general manager Chris Young said. “We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
Leiter was the Rangers’ choice over Vanderbilt teammate Kumar Rocker, California prep shortstop Marcelo Mayer and Dallas Jesuit shortstop Jordan Lawlar, among others.
The Rangers have no concerns about signing Leiter, a sophomore-eligible college player. There was some chatter that Leiter would attempt to force his way to the Boston Red Sox at No. 4 overall, but the Rangers said that was never an issue in their discussions with Leiter and his father, former MLB pitcher Al Leiter.
The assigned slot value for the No. 2 pick is $7.79 million.
“We fully expect to sign him,” Young said. “We wouldn’t have taken him if we didn’t.”
The Rangers aren’t sure if Leiter will pitch in their system this season after his 2021 workload following a COVID-shortened 2020 season.
The 21-year-old was one of the best college pitchers this season, going 11-4 with a 2.13 ERA and 179 strikeouts in 110 innings. He tossed a no-hitter March 20 against South Carolina, striking out 16 and retiring 27 in a row after a leadoff walk.
Leiter’s fastball sits 93-97 mph but has topped out at 100 mph. He also had a plus-slider and a changeup that will develop into an out pitch. He also showed a feel for a curveball this season.
He’s not a towering, hulking pitcher at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, but he generates a lot of power with his athletic ability and flexible lower half.
Young and amateur scouting director Kip Fagg fell in love with the fastball. It has unique characteristics and deception that Fagg said made Leiter stand out above any other prospect.
“It’s a smaller package, but very powerful, athletic,” Fagg said. “The fastball probably plays as good as any fastball I’ve seen in all my years of scouting.”
And the Rangers will be seeing it for years to come.