The Texas Rangers are looking to bolster their starting rotation, and they may get some help next week. Manager Bruce Bochy informed reporters, including MLB.com, that rookie Jack Leiter is set to throw another live batting practice session on Thursday at Globe Life Field.
Leiter, who was placed on the 15-day injured list earlier this month due to a right middle finger blister, has thrown a few times since then, including a 35-pitch live batting practice during the road trip. However, he’s had to wear a bandage on the finger in those sessions, which he can’t do during actual games.
The 24-year-old right-hander is eligible to come off the IL on Thursday, as his injury was retroactive to April 2. Bochy noted that Thursday’s session will be a crucial point in determining Leiter’s next steps. If all goes well, he could be back on the mound for the Rangers next week.
A decision will need to be made on whether Leiter will rejoin the Rangers’ rotation or if he will need a rehab start in the minors, depending on whether the blister remains healed. During Tuesday’s game, Rangers Sports Network reported that Leiter had tried using glue to keep the blister from reopening but didn’t like the feeling and returned to using a bandage for bullpen sessions.
Blisters are a stubborn issue for pitchers. In fact, reliever Joe Barlow was placed on the injured list three times between 2021 and 2022 due to the same problem. The Rangers decided to move Leiter to the IL early to avoid the issue escalating further, especially after he had been pitching well.
Leiter was enjoying his best stretch as a Major League pitcher before the injury. With a near-100 mph fastball and a new kick-change pitch, he had impressed with a 2-0 record and a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings, striking out 10 batters in his first two starts. His second start came the day after Nathan Eovaldi’s complete game shutout, marking the Rangers’ first back-to-back 1-0 victories in franchise history.
In the meantime, Patrick Corbin is filling in for Leiter in the rotation. Corbin made his season debut last week in Chicago, ahead of schedule, due to Leiter’s injury. The Rangers signed Corbin to a $1.1 million contract after losing both Cody Bradford and Jon Gray to injuries to start the season. A two-time All-Star and 2019 World Series champion, Corbin has started at least 30 games every season for the past seven years (excluding the 2020 season). However, after a strong 14-7 record in 2019, Corbin has posted a 33-70 record with a 5.62 ERA since.
