Rangers calling up RHP Jack Leiter for Thursday debut

Field Level Media|published: 04/16/2024, 12:14pm EDT

Mar 8, 2024; Surprise, Arizona, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (71) pitches against the Kansas City Royals during the first inning at Surprise Stadium. credits: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers are calling up right-hander Jack Leiter to make his major league debut on Thursday.

Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft, is scheduled to start the series finale against the Tigers in Detroit.

Leiter is 1-1 with a 3.77 ERA in three games (two starts) this season at Triple-A Round Rock.

He is the son of left-hander Al Leiter, a two-time All-Star and two-time World Series winner who pitched in the majors for 19 seasons (1987-2005) with the New York Yankees and Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and then-Florida Marlins. Al Leiter retired with 162 wins and 1,974 strikeouts.

His uncle is Mark Leiter, a right-hander who spent 11 seasons in the majors with eight teams from 1990-2001. And his cousin is Mark Leiter Jr., who is part of the Chicago Cubs' pitching staff.

Jack Leiter, who turns 24 on Sunday, currently is ranked as the Rangers' No. 8 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline.

—Field Level Media