5/18/21

Mack's Top Draft Prospects - #8 - RHP - Jack Leiter

 


Jack Leiter


Mack's spin - 

The baseball world was waiting to see how Leiter's outing would go this past Saturday, after being rested for a week.

It worked... 10-K in 5-IP.Ranking him the eight pick is based on his downward turn, nut one good outing. Obviously he will go back up if the good news continues.

 

RHP      6-0     195     Vanderbilt 

 

5-15-21 - Kendall Rogers  @KendallRogers

 

Strong return to the bump for Vanderbilt’s RHP Jack Leiter. 10ks in five innings against Ole Miss.

 

 5-6-21 - MLB - 5-6 Mock Draft-

 

2. Rangers: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

After taking college baseball by storm with a no-hitter in his first Southeastern Conference start and seven no-hit innings in his second, Leiter has surrendered eight homers in the last three weeks as scouts wonder how he'll hold up under by far the biggest workload he's ever had.

 

 5-4-21 - BA -

 

Jack Leiter Has Allowed Eight Homers In His Last Three Games

 

It’s true. Leiter has allowed nine home runs this season and eight of those have come in his last three starts—including the two he gave up to Fabian when he missed his spots with a fastball and slider, respectively.

 

Here’s a look how Leiter’s first eight starts compare to his last three:

 

Starts IP ER ERA K K/9 BB BB/9 HR

First 8 49 3 0.55 84 15.43 19 3.49 1

Last 3 15.1 12 7.15 22 13.11 10 5.96 8

Total 64.1 15 2.11 106 14.88 29 4.07 9


 

No starter in college baseball got off to a more dominant start than Leiter through the first eight weeks of the season, but his last three outings have been a bit rough. Most drastically, he’s seen his home run rate go through the roof.

 

 4-29-21 - Baseball Prospect Report mock 3.0 -

 

1. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

The Vanderbilt right-hander has been nearly unhittable this season, minus the four runs he allowed to Mississippi State on April 24. Leiter’s success this season has vaulted him to the top of the 2021 MLB draft prospect list and past teammate Kumar Rocker, the preseason favorite to go first overall. There is still plenty of time between now and draft day, but Leiter is the favorite as of now to go to the Pirates. Texas prep shortstop Jordan Lawlar and Rocker also are potential options here.

 

 4-26-21 - mlb.com mock draft -

 

1) Pirates: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

This long before the Draft, teams picking in the top spot will always do due diligence and evaluate a fairly large group of players. For the Pirates, that might mean more than six. Leiter is certainly in that mix, though he picked up his first loss of the season on Saturday.

 

 4-22-21 - pipeline podcast mock -

 

1) Pirates (Callis): Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt -- It feels like a four-man race to go No. 1 right now, but give me the guy who’s dominating the Southeastern Conference and can pitch off his fastball like few can.

 

 4-19-21 - TTF - Mock 2.0 -

 

3. Detroit Tigers: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

From the moment his name was called for the Yankees’ 20th round selection in the 2019 draft, there was something always special about this kid. His 12-6 curve is devastating and the rest of his arsenal is scary good. If he goes before Rocker I wouldn’t be surprised. I was hesitant to mock a pitcher for Detroit because they need more bats, but Leiter is too good to pass up, and if you’re playing draft odds of the Tigers’ recent pitcher draft picks in the past seven years, might as well roll the dice with another big arm.

 

 4-2-21 -  Through The Fence -

 

2. Texas Rangers: Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

From the moment his name was called for the Yankees’ 20th round selection in the 2019 draft, there was something always special about this kid. His 12-6 curve is devastating and the rest of his arsenal is scary good. If he goes before Rocker I wouldn’t be surprised.

  

3-30-21 - Prospects Worldwide -

 

1. RHP Jack Leiter | School: Vanderbilt | B / T: R / R | Ht: 6’0 | Wt:

 

190lbs | Age: 21.2

 

Leiter, a hot commodity out of High school back in 2019 decided heading Vanderbilt was his best option. Smart decision, as Leiter finds himself in firm discussion to be the Top Overall Prospect in the 2021 MLB Draft with his teammate, Kumar Rocker. Working with outstanding pitchability, stuff, and control, Leiter stands above the rest with an incredibly deep arsenal of 4 pitches that grade out 55 or better with Above-average Command. Led by the Plus Curveball with 11/5 shape that is a strike getter, but also a bat misser and grades easy plus. Mixing in a Slider that flashes Plus, but settles as a 55 giving RHH trouble, and an Above-average Changeup with Vertical drop that is equally as effective at keeping hitters off-balanced. Leiter works with plus extension/drive and has been pumping up to 97 MPH with ease in 2021, something that I was looking for this season. The command of that Fastball has been good in his career but has had some hiccups early in the season, likely from that uptick in velo, nothing to be concerned about… I have a hard time seeing the Pirates pass him up at 1.1. 16 straight no-hit innings to start his SEC career, has virtually solidified his spot at the top of the class for any doubters that remain.

 

 1-22-21 - Keanan Lamb @keananlamb

 

It was a pleasure to witness a no-hitter in person, RHP Jack Leiter didn't even have his best stuff and was nearly perfect. 9.0 IP 0 H 0 ER 1 BB 16 K on 124 pitches

 

 3-7-21 - Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

8 Ks in a row for Jack Leiter and this last one 98 at the top of the zone

 

 2-22-21 -  First Round Arms -

 

Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt (No. 5)

 

Line: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 8 K (69 pitches)

 

Leiter had a sublime outing in the second game of a doubleheader against Wright State. His domination of the Raiders was one of the more impressive outings of college baseball’s opening weekend.

 

He generated plenty of interest on social media after Vanderbilt’s broadcast had him touching 100 mph multiple times—but it turns out the scoreboard gun was hot and multiple scouts confirmed that Leiter was only up to 98 mph in the first. Leiter pitched mostly in the 91-96 mph range during the game, hitting the upper 90s regularly in the first inning but settling into a low-to-mid-90s heater for most of the way.

 

 2-22-21 - Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo

 

Hearing from scouts at the game that Jack Leiter topped out at *just* 98 mph. Either way, dotting that FB is extremely impressive.

 

 Joe Doyle @JoeDoyleMiLB

 

JACK LEITER JUST HIT 100mph

 

Carlos Collazo @CarlosACollazo

 

Jack Leiter is done after five. His line: 5 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 HBP, 8 K (69 pitches, 45 strikes). Really impressive outing.

 

 2-19-21 - Top 10 SEC Prospects -

 

2. Jack Leiter, Vanderbilt, P

 

Again, Leiter is pretty familiar to anybody following the college game, despite only getting a handful of innings in his college career. He’s not as overpowering as Rocker, but the draft-eligible sophomore standout has devastating stuff and impressive lineage (father Al was a standout with the Yankees, Mets and Marlins), and will also be a candidate to be the top draft pick in the nation in a few short months. When pondering how a kid from New Jersey ended up in Nashville, don’t just stick to the usual theories of Vandy dominance. His high school bio indicated that Leiter’s hobbies were hot yoga and “singing with his country band.” If Vandy picks up another title, Leiter has to go the way of old school sports/music acts like the Bears’ “Super Bowl Shuffle.” Please?

 

 2-15-21 - CBS - Top 50 -

 

1. Jack Leiter, RHP, Vanderbilt

 

Leiter's freshman year (all 15 innings of it) saw him post a 1.72 ERA and a 37 percent strikeout rate while utilizing an improved arsenal. His fastball can get into the mid-90s and looks good on a Trackman readout, his top-down curveball is devastating, and he has a quality slider. He's since added a cutter, and is said to be dead set on improving his changeup. Leiter has more than a deep well of pitches to draw from; he receives ample praise for his athleticism and his intelligence, with neither coming as a surprise given his bloodlines (his father, Al, and uncle, Mark, combined to pitch in 30 big-league seasons). He also stands to benefit from the era in which he pitches: smaller starters (he's listed at 6-foot) are now viewed more favorably because of the flat plane they create at the top of the zone, and because of declining workload expectations. So long as Leiter stays healthy and doesn't walk the park, he's a real candidate to go No. 1. 


Click here for the full list of Mack's MLB Draft Scouting Reports.         

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