ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers have had some internal discussion about bringing Jack Leiter back as a reliever, according to The Dallas Morning News. That would allow for a shorter rehab.
The bigger need is in the rotation. Nathan Eovaldi is on the 15-day injured list with right posterior elbow inflammation, and Jacob deGrom‘s next start is undecided after he threw a bullpen session Tuesday.
Leiter is guiding the ankle to return to its optimal movement, but it has not achieved that yet.
“I’m just kind of taking it one day at a time and allowing the body to continue to heal and respond,” Leiter said. “[The ankle] is not moving how it does ideally, but it’s moving in a way that creates a lot of good major league-quality pitches.”
Jack Leiter Set For Second Rehab Start
Leiter is scheduled to make his second rehab start Thursday for the Double-A Frisco RoughRiders. He threw 48 pitches over 2 2/3 innings in his first one last week and is expected to push toward four innings and 60 to 65 pitches this time.
Leiter has been absent since June 19 after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle, and he was subsequently placed on the 60-day injured list. He threw a bullpen session during the All-Star break and continued throwing on flat ground while Texas was in Atlanta.
Leiter has 83 strikeouts this season. He has 262 in his career. Every one of his major league appearances has come as a starter since his debut in April 2024.
Jack Leiter Was The Second Overall Pick In 2021
Texas took Leiter second overall in the 2021 draft out of Vanderbilt.
The Rangers drafted his former college teammate Kumar Rocker third overall the following year, and Rocker has 106 strikeouts this season and 176 in his career.
Texas Rangers Rotation Depth Thinned By Injuries
Eovaldi leads Texas with 10 wins this season. The right-hander is in the second year of a three-year, $75 million contract that runs through 2027, and he has made two All-Star teams and won two World Series, including with Texas in 2023.
Texas placed Eovaldi on the injured list retroactive to Aug. 9 and he rejoined the club in Anaheim last week. The Rangers have not set a return date.
deGrom threw 53 pitches in two innings against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug. 13 before the club shut him down with right triceps fatigue. Texas had not named a starter for Wednesday’s game against Washington.
As of Tuesday, Texas’s record was 61-64, with the Houston Astros ahead in the American League West by two games.
Washington and Texas face off once more on Wednesday at Globe Life Field. The game starts at 7:05 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on Rangers Sports Network.
