The Texas Rangers were hoping Jack Leiter’s third rehab appearance would bring them closer to a decision about his return. Instead, the outing has created another layer of uncertainty. Leiter made his third minor-league rehab appearance Wednesday with Triple-A Round Rock, but rather than starting, the former No. 2 overall pick entered from the bullpen for the first time as Texas continues to consider whether his best path back to the majors could be as a reliever.
The Rangers have been carefully managing Leiter since he underwent arthroscopic surgery on June 23 to remove a loose body near his right ankle. The injury had become increasingly problematic and eventually forced him to the injured list. After months of recovery, Leiter finally returned to competitive action in August, but the organization has been reluctant to rush him back into a full starter’s workload.
Unfortunately for Texas, the latest outing brought another concern. Leiter experienced biceps soreness during and after his one-inning appearance and was subsequently shut down from throwing for several days. Manager Skip Schumaker said the Rangers would reevaluate him after the shutdown, meaning his immediate return to the major-league roster is now less certain.
Leiter’s comeback had initially been encouraging
Leiter’s rehabilitation began with considerable optimism. In his first rehab outing with Round Rock on Aug. 13, he threw 2⅔ scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out three. He threw 48 pitches, with 32 of them going for strikes, and his fastball reportedly reached 98 mph during the outing.
The performance was encouraging because Leiter had not appeared in a competitive game since June. More importantly, he appeared to be moving well after the ankle procedure and was able to generate his usual velocity.
His second rehab appearance came with Double-A Frisco, where things were considerably rougher. Leiter allowed five runs, four earned, on three hits and two walks over three-plus innings, while striking out five. He threw 59 pitches, giving Texas another indication that he still needed additional work before being trusted with a major-league workload.
That second outing was described by Leiter as a “grindy” performance, and Schumaker similarly acknowledged that it was not an easy outing for the right-hander. Still, the manager noted that Leiter’s fastball remained encouraging, reaching the 95-100 mph range.
Why the Rangers tried him out of the bullpen
The decision to use Leiter as a reliever for his third rehab appearance was not accidental.
Texas has been discussing whether the 26-year-old should return as a starter or potentially transition temporarily—or perhaps more permanently—to the bullpen. The reasoning is straightforward: rebuilding Leiter’s workload as a starter requires considerably more time, while a relief role could allow the Rangers to get him back to the major leagues sooner.
Before the latest setback, Leiter had thrown only 48 and 59 pitches in his first two rehab appearances. A typical starter would need to build toward something closer to 75 pitches before returning to a major-league rotation, meaning another several outings could have been necessary.
The bullpen provides a different path.
If Leiter can handle shorter outings without complications, Texas could potentially use him as a long reliever or multi-inning weapon. That would allow the Rangers to take advantage of his velocity and pitch arsenal without immediately asking him to work five or six innings.
His 2026 season was already complicated before the injury
Leiter’s injury interrupted a difficult season.
Before landing on the injured list, the right-hander was 3-7 with a 5.29 ERA in 15 appearances. Those numbers represented a significant step backward from his 2025 campaign, when he went 10-10 with a 3.86 ERA and established himself as a promising young starter.
There were signs that something was not quite right before the ankle surgery.
Leiter had reportedly been dealing with the ankle issue for much of the season. The problem stemmed from an incident in April when he slipped in the visitor’s on-deck circle while backing up home plate. The discomfort worsened over time, and the injury eventually affected his pitching mechanics because the ankle involved his plant leg.
That makes the Rangers’ decision to monitor his return particularly important. If the ankle forced him to compensate mechanically, the organization needs to ensure that his entire delivery is functioning normally before allowing him to resume a heavy workload.
Texas badly needs pitching depth
The Rangers’ interest in getting Leiter back is also tied to their pitching situation.
Texas has dealt with multiple injuries and workload concerns among its starters. Nathan Eovaldi, one of the team’s most important veteran arms, landed on the injured list with right posterior elbow inflammation. He had begun playing catch but, as of the latest update, had not yet resumed throwing from a mound.
That leaves the Rangers needing additional options as they navigate the final portion of the regular season and fight for a postseason position.
Leiter’s return could therefore be extremely valuable, even if he is unable to immediately reclaim his old rotation spot.
A healthy Leiter throwing multiple innings out of the bullpen could give Schumaker another flexible arm to deploy in the middle or late stages of games. He could also potentially serve as a bridge between the starter and the primary relievers.
The timing is critical for Texas
The Rangers are not simply trying to get Leiter healthy for 2027. They are attempting to determine whether he can contribute this season.
Texas is in the middle of a competitive American League Wild Card race, making every available quality pitcher important. The organization has already considered whether Leiter could return in time to help during the postseason push.
Before the latest setback, that possibility looked increasingly realistic.
Now, however, the biceps soreness has changed the equation.
The Rangers must first make sure Leiter’s arm is healthy before deciding whether he can pitch again. The club does not want to turn one injury recovery into another problem by rushing him back.
The Rangers still believe in Leiter’s talent
Despite the setbacks, there is little indication that Texas has lost confidence in Leiter’s long-term ability.
The former Vanderbilt star was selected second overall in the 2021 MLB Draft, making him one of the most highly regarded pitching prospects the Rangers have developed in recent years.
His 2025 season demonstrated why the organization has remained patient. Leiter showed that he could handle a major-league rotation and produce quality innings, finishing with a 3.86 ERA over 30 starts.
The goal now is to get that version of Leiter back.
Whether that happens as a starter or reliever remains one of the Rangers’ biggest pitching questions.
A bullpen role could actually benefit Leiter
There is also a possibility that a move to relief could help Leiter in the short term.
As a starter, he has to build his workload, maintain his mechanics through multiple trips through a lineup and deal with the physical demands of a full start. In the bullpen, the Rangers could limit his exposure while still allowing him to attack hitters aggressively with his fastball and secondary pitches.
A successful relief stint could also provide Leiter with an opportunity to rebuild confidence after a frustrating season.
However, there is a major downside: if the Rangers believe Leiter remains a future rotation piece, they must be careful not to disrupt his long-term development simply to solve a short-term problem.
Now the Rangers have to wait again
The immediate priority is no longer deciding whether Leiter should start or relieve.
It is getting him healthy.
Following the biceps soreness, the Rangers plan to give him several days without throwing before evaluating where he stands. Only after that assessment will the organization determine whether another rehab appearance is possible and what role makes the most sense.
That means the clock is once again working against Texas.
The later the Rangers wait, the fewer opportunities Leiter will have to build up before the regular season ends. If the organization still hopes to use him during a postseason push, it will need to make a decision quickly once he is medically cleared.
For now, though, there is no reason for Texas to take unnecessary risks.
Jack Leiter’s return was supposed to be approaching the final stage, but his latest rehab outing has complicated the Rangers’ plans. The former No. 2 overall pick has shown flashes of the velocity that made him a prized prospect, yet his ankle recovery, inconsistent rehab outings and now biceps soreness have kept his 2026 future uncertain. Whether he ultimately returns as a starter or moves into the bullpen, the Rangers’ biggest requirement is the same: get Leiter healthy first, then determine how he can best help the team.
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