Jack Leiter, RHP Vanderbilt
Draft Eligible: 2021
Year: Junior
Age/DOB: 4/21/2000 (21)
H/T: R/R
HT: 6-0
WT: 195
Physical Description: Below average height and size, but high level of physicality. Muscular frame, extremely strong thighs and glutes. Above average athleticism with a high level of conditioning.
Mechanics: Full windup; short, quick arm action; high ¾ arm slot; drop and drive delivery. Generates excellent push from his lower half, big extension; gets down hill dynamically, lowering his already low release height. This plays up the angle on his fastball, allowing it to play extremely flat in approach high in the zone. High effort mechanics that will lead to bouts of poor command.
Fastball: Sits 92-95 mph, has been up to 98 mph in game. High spin efficiency fastball that generates near perfect backspin. Strong bat missing offering that college hitters have shown very little success against despite heavy usage. At its best high in the zone, or working glove side to right handed hitters. Pounds the upper quadrants, and shows the ability to work east to west and steal strikes in the fringes in the zone. After eight starts in 2021 opponents are slashing .073/.203/.082 against the pitch with an 18% swinging strike rate. Double-plus fastball with the ability to challenge the highest level hitters now. GRADE: 70
Curveball: Slower breaking ball; 12-6 shape; sits 76-79 mph, lacks the command on the pitch he displays with his fastball and slider. At it’s best when landed low gloveside to left handed hitters. However, he lacks feel for that spot. Loopy in shape with a hump, making it easier to pickup when he catches too much of the plate. Flashes above-average shape, but the pitch is average at present. Strong third offering. Go-to secondary versus lefties. GRADE: 50
Slider: Sits 80-83 mph; tighter shape than his curveball with a heavy glove side plan of attack. Effectively expands the zone versus right handed hitters. Tunnels effectively off of fastball, shows late dump. Thrown hard and with frequency in two strike counts. Used as an out pitch versus right handed hitters. Rarely barreled, generates a high number of swings and misses as well as weak pop-up contact. Above-average slider with the ability to push a plus grade in the future. GRADE: 55
Changeup: Mid-80s velocity, up to 88 at its most firm, will flash above-average shape but his feel is inconsistent. Heavy armside plan of attack with more run and horizontal movement than tumble. Shows an inconsistent ability to kill lift. Best ground ball driver with a near-70% ground ball rate against. Leiter’s weakest offering but the pitch with the most projection remaining. Average to above-average shape but below average command. GRADE: 45
Control and Command: Average strike thrower that will struggle with bouts of poor command of his arsenal. Overall shows average command of his slider and fastball, while struggling to always hit his spots with his curveball and changeup. Will miss high armside with the fastball, despite showing above-average command to the upper quadrants with regularity. The area of Leiter’s game that needs the most progression to reach the frontline starter level. CONTROL: 50 COMMAND: 45
Overall: A true four-pitch arsenal led by a double-plus fastball that sets up the rest of his arsenal. Leiter shows the pitch ability and stuff to push number two starter status, but fringe-average -and at time below-average- command hang some questions on that distinction. He does show the ability to miss bats with all of his pitches, and rarely gets barreled. One of the most dominant starting pitchers the college game has seen in some time. High makeup player with a stoic, assassin like demeanor on the mound. High level competitor, with the stuff, fire, and athleticism needed to be successful at the next level.
OFP: 60
Role: 70 - #1 - #2 Frontline Starting Pitcher
Risk: High
Draft Grade: Top 1-5 Pick