Head coach Tim Corbin on Leiter: “Jack is mature, intentional and predictable in his habits on and off the field…he gets it. Extremely proficient in all student-athlete activities. Although just a second-year player, he operates like someone who has been in the program for 3-4 years. Highly motivated and self-driven. He has a specific plan and he executes it…he leaves nothing on the table. Steady and consistent. There is a high care level for being good, and his habits reflect that.”
Student-Athlete Features
VUCommodores.com — Leiter Fuel
As a Sophomore (2021)
• Selected by the Texas Rangers with the second overall pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft
• Unanimous First Team All-American
• Finalist for the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy
• Named to the ABCA All-Southeast Region First Team
• Named SEC Newcomer of the Year
• Selected to the All-SEC first team and the Newcomer All-SEC squad
• A consensus Preseason All-American
• Won first seven decisions to begin season
• Tossed 20.2 consecutive no-hit innings, spanning three across three starts from March 20 against South Carolina to April 2 at LSU
• Made season debut in second game of doubleheader versus Wright State (Feb. 22) – allowed one hit and fanned eight in 5.0 scoreless frames
• Tossed first regular-season, complete game no-hitter since 1971 in SEC debut against No. 16 South Carolina (March 20) – retired 27 straight after allowing first batter on via base on balls, struck out 16 on 124 pitches
• Followed no-hitter with 7.0 hitless innings where he punched out 10 and walked two at Missouri in first SEC road start (March 26)
• Double-digit Ks in first five SEC starts (March 20-April 17), three of which were away from Hawkins Field
• Fanned 13 in 7.0 innings of a no-decision against Georgia (April 9)
• In a win at No. 18 Ole Miss (May 16) – retired 13 via strikeout, allowed two hits, walked three and allowed a run in 6.0 innings
• Collected first postseason win over Georgia Tech in the Nashville Regional – struck out 11, gave a free pass to two, surrendered three hits and allowed a run in 6.0 frames
• Struck out 10 against East Carolina over 7.0 frames in the Super Regional to clinch a trip to the College World Series
As a Freshman (2020)
- Season canceled due to coronavirus outbreak
- SEC’s No. 2 impact freshman by D1Baseball
- SEC’s third-best 2021 MLB Draft prospect by D1Baseball
- No. 62 among Baseball America’s Top 150 Overall Players for 2020
- SEC Co-Freshman of the Week (Feb. 24)
- Made three starts and appeared in four appearances
- Went 2-0 with 22 strikeouts
- Held opponents to a .098 average
- Did not allow a run in his first three appearances
- Did not allow a home run
- Struck out 12 and tossed five scoreless vs. South Alabama (Feb. 18)
The Leiter File
- Selected in the 20th round of the 2019 MLB Draft by the New York Yankees
- Prepped at the Delbarton School
- 2019 New Jersey Gatorade Player of the Year
- 2019 Under Armour All-American
- 2019 Perfect Game All-American
- 2019 First Team All-County
- 2019 first-team all-conference
- Struck out 95 batters in 57 innings as a senior
- Fanned 77 batters in 54.1 frames a junior
- Helped team to non-public A state championship twice
- Academic High Honor Roll all four years
- Full name is Jack Thomas Leiter
- Son of Al and Lori
- Brother to Lindsay, Carly and Katelyn
- Father, Al, pitched 19 seasons in Major Leagues (1987-2005)
- Uncle, Mark, had 11-year Major League career as right-handed pitcher (1990-99; 2001)
- Cousin, Mark Jr., pitched in Majors for two seasons (2017-18)