Watch: Rangers’ Jack Leiter strikes out first hitter on three pitches in MLB debut vs. DET

Jack Leiter has arrived.

The touted Texas Rangers pitching prospect made his big league debut Thursday in Detroit, and he got off to a fast start.

Fastball. Changeup. Fastball.

On three pitches, Leiter picked up the first strikeout of his career as Riley Greene watched a 98 mph pitch paint the outside corner on strike three.

The Rangers officially called up Leiter Thursday morning after manager Bruce Bochy announced earlier in the week he would be making a spot start as Texas manages its rotation during a stretch of 17 games in 17 consecutive days.

Leiter, 23, had a 3.77 ERA in 14 1/3 innings pitched (three starts) for the Triple-A Round Rock Express with a 25-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio this season prior to his promotion.

“I told him when he left [spring training], we’re going to need him,” Bochy said. “I loved the way he was throwing. Fully expected him to be up at some point this year.”

Leiter is the fourth first-round draft choice to debut for Texas this season, joining outfielder Wyatt Langford (2023), infielder Justin Foscue (2020), infielder Davis Wendzel (2019, competitive balance round) and pitcher Cole Winn (2018).

Leiter, the son of former major leaguer Al Leiter, was selected No. 2 overall out of Vanderbilt in the 2021 MLB draft.

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