Leiter shut down for few days after having biceps soreness in 3rd rehab outing

MILWAUKEE -- Jack Leiter’s path back to the Rangers hit another setback.

Leiter will be shut down for the next few days after experiencing biceps soreness during and after his one inning in his rehab appearance with Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday, manager Skip Schumaker said Friday.

“He had some biceps soreness coming out of that game,” Schumaker said. “So we’ll reevaluate what that looks like for the next couple of days.”

Leiter, who underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body from his right ankle area on June 23, was making his third rehab appearance and his first out of the bullpen. He allowed three runs on three hits over one inning, throwing 25 pitches and topping out at 97.9 mph.

Schumaker said the soreness emerged both while Leiter was pitching and after he returned to the dugout following the inning. The Rangers will give him a few days to receive treatment before determining when -- and in what capacity -- he could resume his throwing program.

“We just kind of go through medical and treatment and that kind of thing and make sure he feels good enough to start this kind of routine,” Schumaker said.

The setback makes a return to the Rangers’ rotation this season increasingly unlikely. Leiter had initially been building back up as a starter, but Texas recently shifted him to a relief role during his rehab assignment with an eye toward potentially getting him back to the Majors sooner as the club makes a postseason push.

Asked Friday whether the latest setback makes it difficult for Leiter to return as a starter this season, Schumaker acknowledged that it does.

“Definitely, as far as starting, that’s probably going to be more challenging to do at this point,” Schumaker said.

That doesn’t necessarily close the door on Leiter returning in 2026. A bullpen role could remain an option, but Schumaker emphasized that any discussion about how the Rangers might use Leiter is secondary for now.

“How do we get him back and utilize him the best?” Schumaker said. “We’ve got to get the health figured out first.”