The Texas Rangers select Jack Leiter 2nd overall in the 2021 MLB Draft

With the 2nd selection in the 2021 MLB Draft, the Texas Rangers selected RHP Jack Leiter out of Vanderbilt University.

While he may not be the best prospect in this year’s draft class, Leiter has been the most hyped this year. The son of longtime major leaguer Al Leiter is a draft-eligible sophomore who barely pitched as a freshman, posting a 1.72 ERA in four games. He was dominant at the start of his sophomore campaign, allowing just one earned run over his first six starts and throwing 20.2 straight no-hit innings from March 20-April 2. He cooled off a bit as the season progressed, though, and especially since he’s a bit undersized for a right-handed starter at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, there’s some concern about whether he has the durability necessary to be the ace of a big-league staff.

Leiter features a mid-90s fastball, a plus curveball, and a deceptive slider. This is Leiter’s second time being drafted, as he was selected by the Yankees in the 20th round of the 2019 draft.