All it took was one start to send Jack Leiter back down to the minors.
The 2021 No. 2 overall draft pick has been one of MLB’s top prospects over the last few seasons and made his big league debut on Thursday — but it was a rough one.
And with that, Leiter already has been send down on Friday, optioned back to Triple-A Round Rock.
In his place, the Rangers called up Owen White to help out the bullpen.
The Texas Rangers righty allowed seven runs on eight hits in 3 2/3 innings against the Tigers, exiting the effort with a 17.18 ERA.
He also walked three and struck out three batters in the start.
“Obviously, it’s a surreal experience,” Leiter said after the game. “It’s something you dream about since you were a little kid. Being around the game always, it’s a special day. I know I’m better and I need to be better and I will be better. And that’s kind of the frustration is some pitches that I left on the table and some mistakes that I made. ”
The right-hander product recorded two starts and three pitching appearances with Round Rock before his first start in The Show, putting together a 4.40 ERA, striking out 25 hitters in 14 1/3 innings pitched.
debut game against the Tigers MLB Photos via Getty Images
The 6-foot-1 projected ace to be is the son of former Mets and Yankees pitcher Al Leiter, who pitched in the Majors from 1987-2005, making two All-Star teams and winning three World Series titles.
Jack, who turns 24 on Sunday, was drafted out of Vanderbilt, where he had a 2.08 ERA and struck out 201 hitters across 125.2 innings pitched in his college career.
“He was all right,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said after Leiter’s debut. “He had a little trouble hitting his spots in the second inning, but he came right back in the third and got two quick outs in the fourth before he ran into trouble.”