Story by
Rangers’ Leiter Faces Another Setback
- Story by
- Rangers’ Leiter Faces Another Setback
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Texas Rangers have encountered another obstacle in their efforts to get Jack Leiter back on the mound.
Leiter experienced biceps soreness during and following his latest minor-league rehab appearance, prompting the Rangers to pause his throwing program for the next several days. The team will use that time to monitor the right-hander and determine when he can safely resume throwing.
Advertisement
The setback comes at an unfortunate point in Leiter's recovery. The 26-year-old had been working toward a return to Texas after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in June to address an issue involving his right ankle.
Wednesday's appearance with Triple-A Round Rock was Leiter's third rehab outing and his first working out of the bullpen. He pitched one inning, allowing three runs on three hits while throwing 25 pitches. His fastball reached 97.9 mph.
While the results of the outing were not ideal, the bigger concern for the Rangers is the soreness that followed.
Leiter is now expected to take several days away from pitching while receiving treatment. The organization will then evaluate how he feels before deciding when he can return to his throwing routine.
Advertisement
That process could have a major impact on Leiter's chances of pitching for Texas again this season.
The Rangers had initially been building Leiter back toward a starting role during his recovery. However, with the club pushing toward the postseason, Texas recently began exploring the possibility of using him as a reliever instead.
Moving to the bullpen was viewed as a potential way for Leiter to reach the Major Leagues sooner without requiring him to build up to a full starter's workload. His latest setback, however, makes even that path less certain.
A return to the rotation now appears increasingly difficult to accomplish during the remainder of the 2026 season. Leiter would need to resume throwing, complete additional rehab work, and then build himself back into game shape before Texas could rely on him for a starter's workload.
Advertisement
The bullpen route could still provide a more realistic opportunity if Leiter is able to recover quickly and avoid any additional setbacks.
For now, though, the Rangers are not focused on determining his eventual role. His health has become the immediate priority.
Leiter has dealt with a difficult stretch this season, and another interruption to his rehab process could make it challenging for him to contribute during Texas' postseason push.
The Rangers will have to wait and see how Leiter responds over the coming days before establishing a new timetable. If the soreness subsides and he is able to resume throwing without complications, he could potentially continue working toward a return later in the season.
Advertisement
However, there is now considerably less certainty surrounding when Leiter will pitch again and what role he could fill.
The Rangers were hoping his latest rehab appearance would represent another step toward his return. Instead, the biceps soreness has forced the club to take another cautious approach.
Until Leiter is healthy and back on the mound consistently, questions about whether he returns as a starter or reliever will remain secondary.
For Texas, the priority is getting its young right-hander healthy enough to pitch again before determining how he can help the team.
