Fantasy News

• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Returning to Triple-A

  Rotowire Apr 19, 2024

  The Rangers optioned Leiter to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. The right-hander surrendered seven runs over 3.2 frames in his major-league debut Thursday versus the Tigers and will now make his way back to Triple-A. Michael Lorenzen (neck) is poised to make his season debut this weekend to fill out the Rangers' rotation. Leiter could receive another look with the big club later in the year.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Struggles in debut

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  Leiter did not factor into the decision Thursday against the Tigers. He allowed seven runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out three in 3.2 innings. After a clean first inning, the Tigers tagged Leiter for four runs in the second before tacking on three more with two outs in the fourth, making for a tough debut for the second overall pick in 2021. Leiter struggled to a 5.19 ERA in the minors last year, though he'd gotten off to a promising start this season, posting a 3.77 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 14.1 innings for Triple-A Round Rock. With Michael Lorenzen (neck) making his Rangers debut this weekend, Leiter could be headed back to the minors.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Called up ahead of MLB debut

  Rotowire Apr 18, 2024

  The Rangers selected Leiter's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday. Leiter is set to start Thursday's game in Detroit in his MLB debut after posting a 3.77 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 25:3 K:BB across 14.1 innings with Round Rock to begin the season. The Rangers are seemingly planning for Leiter to make just one start before heading back to the minors, but he could change minds if he pitches well, particularly with Andrew Heaney's struggles.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Makes first spring start

  Rotowire Mar 8, 2024

  Leiter allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one over three innings in Friday's Cactus League start against the Royals. Leiter, whose first three spring appearances have come in relief, was making his first spring start. He had a perfect first inning, ran into trouble in the second when he allowed both runs, then worked around a leadoff walk in his final frame. Leiter's main challenge since being drafted in 2022 has been to consistently throw strikes, and the right-hander has walked five batters in 9.2 spring innings.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Making jump to Triple-A

  Rotowire Sep 18, 2023

  The Rangers plan to promote Leiter from Double-A Frisco to Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports. With Frisco's season coming to an end, Leiter will move up to Round Rock for the final week of the minor-league campaign. According to Grant, Leiter isn't initially expected to be active for Round Rock, though he could still make his Triple-A debut later on in the week. Leiter ended his time at Frisco with a 5.07 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 110:47 K:BB across 81.2 innings.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Strong effort in no-decision

  Rotowire Sep 17, 2023

  Leiter allowed two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out nine over five innings for Double-A Frisco on Saturday. Leiter submitted another strong performance since returning from the development list. In four starts since being reinstated, the right-hander has allowed six runs on 11 hits and four walks while striking out 25 over 16.1 innings.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Another encouraging outing

  Rotowire Sep 10, 2023

  Leiter allowed two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out five over five innings for Double-A Frisco on Saturday. Leiter continued a nice run following his reinstatement from the development list. The 23-year-old allowed a two-run home run in the first inning but finished with 4.1 scoreless frames. In three starts since coming back to the RoughRiders, the right-hander has a 3.18 ERA, 16 strikeouts and three walks over 11.1 innings. Three starts are a small sample, so it's too soon to claim Leiter's control issues are behind him, but his performance is encouraging.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Ugly results at Double-A

  Rotowire Jul 12, 2023

  Leiter has given up 13 earned runs while walking five and striking out five in five innings across two starts since getting activated from the development list at Double-A Frisco on June 30. Whatever Leiter was working on for 12 days in between starts, it didn't translate into immediate success in his return to the RoughRiders' rotation. Leiter's 2023 stats (5.51 ERA, 1.52 WHIP) are looking awfully similar to his 2022 numbers (5.54 ERA, 1.55 WHIP), and his name value and pedigree probably won't be able to prop up trade value anymore in dynasty leagues.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Added to development list

  Rotowire Jun 24, 2023

  The Rangers placed Leiter on the development list Friday, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports. The organization has temporarily removed Leiter from the Double-A Frisco rotation for what Grant described as a workload management plan. The right-hander has made 13 starts and thrown 60.1 innings this season; in 2022, Leiter threw 48.2 innings over his first 13 starts. It's unclear how much time he'll spend on the development list, but the club could sit Leiter until after the Texas League's midseason break. The league is off from July 10-13.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Walks four Tuesday

  Rotowire Jun 7, 2023

  Leiter allowed two runs on two hits and four walks while striking out seven over four innings for Double-A Frisco on Tuesday. Leiter's coming off the best month of his career, having posted a 1.67 ERA over five starts during the month of May. The right-hander walked two or fewer in four of those starts. However, as seen Tuesday and in one May start in which he walked seven, the free pass remains an issue. Leiter has walked 5.6 batters per nine innings for the season.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Scratched from Sunday's start

  Rotowire May 28, 2023

  Leiter was scratched from Sunday's start at Double-A Frisco due to foot soreness, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports. Leiter was dominant over four starts in May, posting a 1.71 ERA, 29:12 K:BB and 1.05 WHIP in 21 innings. However, he'll be unable to make his final scheduled start of the month. The 23-year-old is considered day-to-day for now, and he'll likely be able to make his next turn through the rotation.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Repeating Double-A level

  Rotowire Mar 29, 2023

  Leiter will begin the 2023 season with Double-A Frisco, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports. Leiter was the second pick of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft and assigned to Double-A Frisco in his first professional campaign, but he struggled at that level to the tune of a 5.54 ERA and 1.55 WHIP over 92.2 innings. The right-hander certainly has the stuff to someday be a strong fantasy option, but there's obvious risk because of the lackluster command he displayed in 2022.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Throws scoreless inning

  Rotowire Mar 1, 2023

  Leiter hit a batter and struck out one over a scoreless sixth inning in Tuesday's spring game against Colorado. Leiter made his spring debut, throwing 10 pitches while sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball, according to Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. It was Vanderbilt day for the Rangers, who deployed two former Commodores drafted in the first round, Leiter and Kumar Rocker, who pitched a scoreless eighth. Leiter went straight to Double-A Frisco in 2022 and didn't fare well through an inconsistent season. The right-hander told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that last season's experience taught him about processes and routines, and Leiter believes he's learned from the volatile season.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Plagued by control issues

  Rotowire Aug 31, 2022

  Leiter has a 4.92 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 107:50 K:BB through 89.2 innings for Double-A Frisco this year. While Leiter has recently avoided the epic implosions that he suffered through several times earlier this year, he's simply been unable to get a handle on his control issues. The 22-year-old righty has walked three or more hitters in four of his last six starts, and he hasn't finished six innings since way back on May 7. On the bright side, he's done a good job keeping the ball in the yard, he's got a sharp 10.8 K/9, and there's some bad luck in his strand rate, so Leiter hasn't totally lost his prospect allure despite what's been a difficult season.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Activated at Double-A

  Rotowire Jul 11, 2022

  Leiter (arm) returned from the developmental list and started Sunday for Double-A Frisco, covering 1.1 innings and striking out two while allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits and two walks. Leiter was deactivated for about two and a half weeks due to right arm fatigue, but the 22-year-old was likely due to miss some starts in 2022 anyway even if his health hadn't been a concern. The right-hander is believed to be fine physically, but his return to the Frisco rotation still didn't go quite as well as planned. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 first-year player draft remains a high-end pitching prospect, but his first exposure to professional ball hasn't been a smooth one. Through 55.2 innings with Frisco this season, Leiter owns a 5.66 ERA and 1.58 WHIP and has walked 12.7 percent of the batters he's faced.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Shakes off first inning

  Rotowire May 27, 2022

  Leiter allowed two runs on three hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out five over five innings for Double-A Frisco on Thursday. Leiter, who had been roughed up in his two previous outings, appeared headed for a third poor start after hitting a batter and giving up three hits and two runs in the first inning. However, the 22-year-old right-hander responded by allowing just one base runner over the next four innings. The prized prospect lowered his ERA from 6.38 to 5.90.

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• Rangers' Jack Leiter: Makes spring debut

  Rotowire Mar 12, 2022

  Leiter allowed one hit, two walks and hit a batter while striking out two over 1.1 scoreless innings in a scrimmage against the Royals on Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports. This marked the first time Leiter pitched in a semi-real game since last July, when he fanned eight batters in Game 1 of the College Word Series for Vanderbilt. "It was awesome to get out here and face another team," Leiter said. "I think kind of everyone was, with it being the first game of spring training, a little jumpy, but super excited. And I think at times that played against me today. It happens." The right-hander threw 30 pitches, and the one hit allowed was to Kansas City top prospect Bobby Witt. It's unclear at which level the Rangers' 2021 first-round draft pick will begin his professional career.

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