ARLINGTON -- Skip Schumaker said he wants Jack Leiter to really learn how to pitch.
Not just throwing the ball, not just gripping it and ripping it. Really pitching.
“Pitching is not just throwing it by guys like he was able to do, probably his whole college career, and a little bit in the Minors,” the Rangers' manager said. “[Nathan Eovaldi] has transitioned from that type of pitcher early in his career to like he pitches now. He knows how to pitch. He knows how to get guys out in different ways. It's not just ‘I have 98 and here comes,’ although he has the ability to do that. … That’s Jack’s next step.”
Leiter is well on his way to taking that next step.
On Sunday, Leiter tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Royals, carrying the Rangers to a 6-3 win to complete the three-game sweep. Texas scored four runs with two outs in the first inning, including two on an Ezequiel Duran triple.
Leiter’s two-out walk to Jac Caglianone on his 101st pitch ended his day in the sixth inning, but he still completed just his second and his longest scoreless start of the season. His 10 strikeouts matched a career high.