Highly-touted pitching prospect Jack Leiter had a bumpy Major League debut, but the Texas Rangers ultimately came out on top with a 9-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers. Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, struggled on the mound, allowing seven earned runs on eight hits in just 3 ²/₃ innings.
Despite his rocky start, Leiter remained confident in his abilities and acknowledged the mistakes he made during the game. Prior to his call-up, Leiter had been performing well in Triple-A Round Rock, leading to high expectations for the young pitcher.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy commented on Leiter’s performance, noting that he had some trouble hitting his spots but showed resilience in the third inning. The Rangers were able to secure the win thanks to a go-ahead run by Leody Taveras in the eighth inning, along with an RBI single.
Tigers manager A.J. Hinch praised Taveras’ play as a great athletic move that unfortunately didn’t go their way. In the end, it was Jose Leclerc who picked up the win in relief for Texas, while Shelby Miller took the loss for Detroit.
Former teammate Anthony Volpe from the Yankees expressed excitement and support for Leiter’s debut, reminiscing about their time together at Delbarton School in New Jersey. Despite the rough start, there is still plenty of optimism surrounding Jack Leiter and his future in the Major Leagues.
