Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy is making his way around the different practice fields at the facility in Surprise, Ariz., doing what he can to see every player and, just as importantly, every prospect he can.
Unlike his days in San Francisco, when the Giants had just two fields at their complex, the Rangers’ expansive site — which they share with the Kansas City Royals — requires covering a lot of ground. Bochy has a golf cart to help him get around quickly.
That means he doesn’t get to see every prospect every day. But it gives him time to focus on certain prospects each day.
The other day was a good time for Bochy to see Jack Leiter.
“Well I don’t know how you could throw the ball better, to be honest with you,” Bochy said after watching Leiter’s bullpen session on Monday. “I mean he looked like he was in midseason form. This is how well he threw yesterday.
"He had really good command through strikes. Outstanding breaking ball. Pitched on the upper bar well. He did everything. Good delivery, consistent. That was a good day for him.”
The Rangers hope more good days are ahead for their first-round pick from 2021.
He didn’t pitch in the system in 2021, as the Rangers chose to rest his arm after he pitched for Vanderbilt in the College World Series.
He spent last season at Double-A Frisco, where admittedly he had an uneven year. Despite earning selection to the MLB Futures game in Los Angeles, Leiter went 3-10 with a 5.54 ERA in 23 games (22 starts).
He threw 92 2/3 innings, gave up 88 hits, 69 runs (57 earned), 11 home runs and 56 walks. He struck out 109. Batters hit .246 against him and he had a 1.55 WHIP.
It was not the sort of season that leads to progress in the minors, even for a player with Leiter’s pedigree. He's the son of Al Leiter, who will be inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame this year.
But the Rangers also know progress isn’t linear. It’s part of the reason the Rangers signed as many veteran starting pitchers as they did. They’re working to buy their well-respected organization time to develop their young starting pitchers, which include Leiter’s former Vanderbilt teammate, Kumar Rocker, and Owen White, who will pitch for the Rangers in their first Spring Training game on Friday.
Leiter isn’t a candidate to reach the Rangers this season. But that’s OK as far as Bochy is concerned. In his experience, these things have a way of working themselves out.
“There’s a progression that has to happen, the consistency and all of these things that come into play now,” Bochy said. “They’ll let you know when they’re ready.”
More must-reads: