It seems like Jack Leiter might be good at this. Six days after no-hitting SEC rival South Carolina (fanning 16 batters in the process), the Vanderbilt sophomore was at it again Friday night, delivering 10 punch-outs over seven breathtaking frames at Missouri. The ace right-hander was two innings shy of throwing a second consecutive no-hitter but coach Tim Corbin never gave him the opportunity, taking the ball from Leiter after 101 pitches. The Commodores would win by a final count of 11-3, running Leiter’s record to a perfect 6-0 on the year.
It’s debatable whether Leiter is even the best pitcher on Vanderbilt’s staff—teammate Kumar Rocker was the College World Series’ Most Outstanding Player as a freshman two years ago—which would explain why the 18-3 Commodores are ranked first nationally. Leiter, who was limited to four outings as a freshman due to last year’s COVID outbreak, has rightfully seen his draft stock soar, pitching to a pristine 0.25 ERA with 59 strikeouts across 36 masterful innings. Over that immaculate stretch, he’s permitted just two runs (one earned), seven hits and 13 walks.
The 20-year-old New Jersey native was drafted by the Yankees (who his father Al spent four of his 19 MLB seasons with) in 2019, but instead accepted a scholarship to Vanderbilt. That turned out to be the right decision for Leiter, who seems all but certain of a top-five selection (and a seven-figure slot value) in the upcoming MLB Draft. Obviously, Leiter’s stats (accomplished while pitching in America’s top baseball conference, no less) are ridiculous, but it’s his impeccable four-pitch repertoire (curve, changeup, slider and a blistering, 100-mph four-seamer) that has scouts smitten.
Vanderbilt has been a pitching factory in recent years, producing David Price, Walker Buehler, Sonny Gray and Mike Minor, among other MLB standouts. Leiter and Rocker appear well on their way to joining that fraternity as big-league successes.
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