DETROIT — Right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, pitched for the Texas Rangers in Thursday's game against the Detroit Tigers, allowing eight hits, three walks, and three strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings for seven. We conceded a goal. His major league debut at Comerica Park.
Reiter started his first game in the majors with a three-pitch strikeout from Detroit's leadoff batter Riley Greene. Reiter elevated him with three called strikes: a 95.8 mph fastball, an 88.4 mph changeup, and a 97.7 mph fastball. He avoided a single by Mark Canha with one out and a walk by Spencer Torkelson with two outs to complete a scoreless first on 20 pitches.
In the second inning, he gave up a five-pitch walk to Colt Keith and had some bad luck when Gio Urshela hit a 65 mph single with a low slider over the head of Marcus Semien. In his next at-bat, Reiter threw his first fastball low and into the inside corner, where Javier Baez hit 178.8 mph into the left field seats for a scoring double. Urshela scored on Carson Kelly's ground ball, and Green hit a low 164.2 mph fastball to right-center field for a scoring triple. He scored from third base on Mark Canha's single.
Reiter walked 20 out of 32 pitches in the second inning and had trouble distinguishing between fastballs and sliders. Those that were outside the strike zone weren't that close, and those that were inside the zone were too easy to hit.
He retired the next six Detroit batters he faced until Green doubled in the fourth inning.
So things fell apart.
In his next at-bat, Caña reached base with a five-pitch walk, and Carpenter cleared the bases with a 162.8 mph triple to center field, which was misplayed by Leody Taveras. Torkelson scored with a double off Carpenter in his next at-bat, and Rangers manager Bruce Bosie replaced Reiter with Jose Urena.
The Tigers recorded a launch velocity of over 100 mph on six of their eight base hits, and a “hard-hit” velocity (over 95 mph) on 10 of the 15 batted balls from Reiter.
The Rangers opted to sign Reiter on Thursday, optioning right-hander Grant Anderson to Triple-A and placing Brock Burke (broken hand) on the 60-day disabled list, leaving room for Reiter on the 40-man roster. gave.
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