Has Jack Leiter turned the corner? 

The Rangers organization has been desperate for Jack Leiter to succeed. They have tried everything. 

And when he gave up seven earned runs in 3.2 innings in his first start, all we heard was how good the start was, just one or two minor things here and there, but overall, very encouraging. Never mind his ERA was 17.18.

Three weeks later he got his second start, against Oakland. Four innings, six runs allowed, four earned. The start was praised for how good he was in those few innings he didn’t give up runs. Giving up a run an inning dropped his ERA to 12.19.

Next, on May 14, he faced Cleveland, a really good team. He gave up more runs than outs. Six runs, five outs. But there was a lot to like about those five outs. Those five outs were very encouraging. Heck, he could one day turn that into six outs. His ERA was back up to 16.39.

Those three starts were when the Rangers still had hopes of being a playoff contender. Cut to three months later, August 28, the Rangers are hopelessly out of it, and now desperately in need of starting arms. When you’re desperate, you call up a guy with a 16.39 ERA. He managed four innings, giving up just two runs, but piled up the pitch count in those four innings. But, it was against the White Sox, a team most readers of this blog could hold their own over four innings. He did drop his ERA to 12.83.

Then he faced the playoff-bound Yankees. Got through the first five innings allowing just two runs. Then in the sixth, gave up a two singles and a double before being lifted. Three runs that inning were charged to him. His praises were being sung about those first five innings. And, yes, he held his own for five. But you cannot overlook the disastrous sixth. In the end, his line score was five earned runs in five innings, which surprisingly actually lowered his ERA to 11.78.

Last night against the Angels, Leiter gave up two runs in the first and it looked like he might be teetering. But, he punched his way off the ropes and made it through five innings, like in his previous start. Also like in his previous start, he was run out for the sixth inning. He immediately walked the first batter. Bruce Bochy remembered how quickly he fell apart in the sixth inning against the Yankees and didn’t want a repeat of that. He removed Leiter. His baserunner scored and his final line was a decent if not spectacular five innings, three earned runs, dropping his ERA down to 10.41.

The Rangers came back late to beat the Angels 6-4. Leiter didn’t get a decision.

But, Jack Leiter is a work in progress. But first round draft picks get so much more runway than other players would get. Remember Tanner Scheppers? That’s not saying Leiter is another Scheppers, that would be cruel. 

But Leiter is going to get every chance he can to prove he deserves to stay on the major league roster. 

The jury is still out. 

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