Jack Leiter has surprisingly looked like the top pitcher for the Texas Rangers early in the 2026 season, even though the rotation was expected to be led by Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi, with MacKenzie Gore also added in the offseason. While the staff was already considered a strength, Leiter has stood out above the rest so far.
After a somewhat inconsistent 2025 campaign where he posted a 3.86 ERA across 151⅔ innings but showed flashes of dominance, including a 10-strikeout outing against the Cleveland Guardians Leiter appears to have taken a step forward this year. In his first two starts of 2026, he owns a 2.45 ERA over 11 innings, with 17 strikeouts and only two walks, giving him one of the best statistical starts on the team.
A key improvement has been his control. After issuing 67 walks last season (about four per nine innings), he has significantly reduced that number to just 1.6 walks per nine so far. However, efficiency remains an issue, as high pitch counts have limited his ability to go deep into games such as in his outing against the Cincinnati Reds, where every inning required at least 15 pitches.
Leiter’s success is also tied to his pitch mix. His four-seam fastball and changeup make up over half of his pitches. The fastball, averaging 97.3 mph, has been effective in generating swings and misses, though it’s often used to set up hitters rather than finish them. His changeup has produced strong swing-and-miss numbers as well, even if results haven’t fully reflected its effectiveness yet.
His slider has been especially dominant, holding opponents to a very low batting average while generating a high whiff rate and serving as his primary strikeout pitch. His curveball has also been effective in finishing hitters, while his sinker and cutter used less frequently have still been highly efficient when called upon.
Overall, Leiter’s arsenal has clearly developed since his debut, and when he commands all his pitches, he can be extremely difficult to hit. If he continues performing at this level and improves his efficiency, he could solidify himself as more than just a mid-rotation arm and potentially become a key piece of the Rangers’ success. His early form suggests he may finally be living up to the expectations that came with his draft status, which could make Texas a serious contender in the American League.
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