Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter is clearing another important hurdle for his return to a big league mound.
Leiter began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday as he continues his return from midseason right ankle surgery. Leiter underwent an arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his right ankle region on June 23, and he has been on the injured list since.
Leiter had a 5.29 ERA in 15 starts this season before his surgery.
How did he perform?
Leiter struck out three across 2 2/3 scoreless innings of work, surrendering one hit and one walk. He threw 48 pitches, 32 of them for strikes.
Leiter touched 98.4 mph on the fastball and averaged 96.9 mph throughout his outing, per Statcast, which is in line with his average this season (96.7 mph). His changeup averaged 91.5 mph, above his season average of 90 mph. He generated six whiffs and threw all five of his pitches for strikes.
What’s next?
Leiter will continue to be built up as a starter for now, but that could change based on the needs of the team in the final stretch.
What are they saying?
“I think we’re still going to build him up, at least another start, most likely, after this one,” Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said. “Then, after that, we’ll make a decision on what it looks like. That’s a front office and coaching staff decision, that’s not just my decision. But at this point of the season, it’s a sprint. It’s no longer the marathon of a baseball season, it is a sprint.
“So we’re going to try to do whatever we can to try to have our best, healthiest guys moving forward and take our best shot. Whether that means he’s bullpen, or starter, piggybacking, whatever. How are we going to win tonight? I’ve said that a million times, but that is really the next 42 games, we have to figure that out.”
What else?
The Rangers just got a pair of pitchers back from the IL in Cody Bradford and Jordan Montgomery before losing Nathan Eovaldi to right elbow inflammation.