The Rangers have the second overall pick in June's MLB Draft. It's why we are paying attention to guys like Jack Leiter.
The Vanderbilt sophomore pitcher dominated once again Monday, striking out seven of his first 10 batters he faced against Wright State. Leiter finished his five-inning stint giving up just one hit.
Also of note: The son of former big leaguer Al Leiter popped 100 mph a few times.
In four appearances this season, Leiter has totaled a 1.72 ERA, striking out 22 in 15 2/3 innings.
Leiter isn't the only Vanderbilt pitcher on the radar of those with picks atop the Draft, with teammate Kumar Rocker slated to potentially go No. 1 overall. He did nothing to diminish his stock, retiring 10 of his first 11 batters in his most recent outing. Rocker has a 1.80 ERA in three starts, fanning 28 over 15 frames.
Last summer, Vanderbilt coach (and Wolfeboro, N.H. native) Tim Corbin explained to WEEI.com why the two pitchers were so special.
“Both of them are very directed kids,” he said. “Both of them understand that it’s attention that is on the perimeter of where they live and where they live their counterpoint is on a campus and on a ball field and in the classroom. They do a very good job of containing their mindsets directed only on that. I think the outside they understand that. It comes with it. I think the strength of kids like them is they have gone through those processes before. They have had a lot of conversations in high school about this. I think the second time around it’s, ‘OK, I’ve been through it. I know it’s going to happen around me. But the commanding piece of me is being able to do what I do and forget about everything else.’ That’s what they do.
“All the kids that have been very successful here and now are playing at the highest level, they all left academically in really, really good shape. There was no one ever moving in a different direction. With those kids they continued to move up academically. Jack Leiter is a Dean’s List student. Kumar is over a 3.0 student. You’re talking about two kids who really, really compete academically because they understand those competitive fibers do transition to the ball field and do transition to other areas of their life. I would say they command the 24 hour day. They do not let a 24 hour day slip away from them. They are both on task. They both have social lives, but they know how to command that. They know everything they’re doing has significance and importance to them. They are the best reflection of both sets of their parents. That’s the similarity. They are the best reflections of their parents. They really are. They are their parents every single day by how they treat otters, have they navigate their lives and by their outputs. That’s the best compliment they give their parents.”