Rangers select Vanderbilt ace Jack Leiter No. 2 overall
David E. Klutho / Sports Illustrated / Getty
With the second pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Texas Rangers selected Jack Leiter, a right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt.
Leiter, 21, dominated SEC competition this year, authoring a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against South Carolina in March. The son of two-time All-Star Al Leiter posted a 2.08 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 171 strikeouts to 42 walks over 104 innings this season.
He received first-round interest out of high school but slipped to the New York Yankees in the 20th round in 2019 due to a strong commitment to Vanderbilt.
Bio
Age: 21
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Vanderbilt
Pick value (#2): $7,789,900
Tools
- Fastball tops out at 97 mph
- Above-average curveball, slider
- Rarely used changeup also plays
Why fans will love this player
- No-hitter in SEC debut; threw seven no-hit innings in next start
- Comparable to fellow Vanderbilt alum Sonny Gray
Things he'll need to overcome
- Command issues
- Workload
Take a look ...
(Video source: Wheels)
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