Rangers select Vanderbilt ace Jack Leiter No. 2 overall

With the second pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Texas Rangers selected Jack Leiter, a right-handed pitcher from Vanderbilt.

Leiter, 21, dominated SEC competition this year, authoring a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts against South Carolina in March. The son of two-time All-Star Al Leiter posted a 2.08 ERA and 0.84 WHIP with 171 strikeouts to 42 walks over 104 innings this season.

He received first-round interest out of high school but slipped to the New York Yankees in the 20th round in 2019 due to a strong commitment to Vanderbilt.

Bio

Age: 21
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 205 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Vanderbilt
Pick value (#2): $7,789,900

Tools

• Fastball tops out at 97 mph
• Above-average curveball, slider
• Rarely used changeup also plays

Why fans will love this player

• No-hitter in SEC debut; threw seven no-hit innings in next start
• Comparable to fellow Vanderbilt alum Sonny Gray

Things he'll need to overcome

• Command issues
• Workload

Take a look ...

(Video source: Wheels)