Jack Leiter’s Struggle to Find the Elusive Strikeout Pitch

PITTSBURGH — Surrounded by droves of appropriate imagery, Jack Leiter continued his season-long hunt for the metaphorical buried treasure that could best unlock his abilities on the mound.

“It’s kind of just the elusive strikeout pitch,” the Texas Rangers’ rookie right-handed pitcher said Sunday. “Finding where the sweet spot to put it is to where it’s not a ball in play and it’s also not a ball.”

The Struggle is Real

On Sunday, in an 8-3 series finale loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park, Leiter continued a worrisome trend and swung too far in either direction in leverage counts and failed to capitalize on advantages that he’d built early in at bats.

The 25-year-old allowed three runs on five hits, two walks and two strikeouts but lasted just four innings after his pitch count climbed too high on a hot Western Pennsylvania day. That, paired with another offensive clunker in which the Texas lineup failed to produce with runners on, cost the Rangers a shot at a sweep and a chance to bring a .500 record into a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Two-Strike Counts: A Pitcher’s Best Friend?

Pitchers have both theoretical and legitimate advantages in two-strike counts. The average hitter leaguewide has a .251 on base percentage in two-strike counts this season. Against Leiter, though, batters have a .323 on base percentage. It’s the ninth-worst mark among all qualified pitchers, and in Sunday’s game, the Pirates reached base in two-strike counts vs. Leiter at a .357 clip.

More than one third (31 of 88) of Leiter’s pitches came with two strikes already in the count. It took Leiter an average of 2.3 pitches to finish each of the 13 two-strike plate appearances that he worked himself into.

Leiter’s Struggles in Two-Strike Counts

Five of those ended in either a walk or hit and just two — Isiah Kiner-Falefa in the second inning and Nick Gonzalez in the fourth — ended via a strikeout. The average pitcher has a 41.2% strikeout percentage in two-strike counts. Leiter’s is 34.9% and, on Sunday, it was a woeful 15.3%.

“He’s got great stuff,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Velocity, slider, curveball, changeup. He’s just got to get it over the plate or at least closer to the plate. That’s what I think he’ll look back at and realize ‘Hey, I’ve got the stuff to attack with two strikes, too.’”

The Impact of High Pitch Counts

The inability to finish plate appearances can, at its least harmful, recklessly drive up a pitch count. Leiter pitched a scoreless first and second inning but needed 47 pitches to do so on a humid day. It was just the 13th game that the Rangers have played with a first-pitch temperature of 90 degrees or greater since Globe Life Field opened five years ago.

“I think I kind of left the guys out there in the field too long,” Leiter said. “It kind of goes against the game plan on a hot day of wanting to get the guys back in the dugout as quick as possible. I only really did that in one of my four innings.”

Drawn-Out At Bats: A Recipe for Disaster

Drawn-out at bats can, at their most harmful, give hitters too many opportunities to capitalize on mistakes and identify pitches. Leiter allowed three consecutive two-strike singles to Joey Bart, Spencer Horwitz and Ke’Bryan Hayes in the fourth inning on fastballs in the strike zone to plate Pittsburgh’s first run. Tommy Pham tied the game at 2-2 in the at bat after Hayes with a sacrifice fly.

Leiter and Bochy did not necessarily think the fastballs were poorly located, but, seven of the eight off-speed and breaking pitches he threw in those three at bats were out of the zone. To Leiter, “it got to predictable points” where the Pirates could sit on his fastball.

“A lot of them were non-competitive pitches where they won’t chase,” Bochy said. “When you show that many pitches to hitters consistently, now they’re getting a read on you.”

A Frustrating Outcome

Leiter faced just one batter in the fifth inning before Bochy pulled him in favor of long reliever Caleb Boushley. He had a 1-2 advantage vs. Oneil Cruz but walked him on three consecutive pitches below the zone to start the frame. It kickstarted a five-run inning and sunk the Rangers — who’ve not come back from any deficit larger than two runs this season — into a 7-2 hole.

“It’s definitely frustrating,” Leiter said. “I recognize that I need to be better and put these guys in a better position to win.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, Jack Leiter’s struggle to find the elusive strikeout pitch has been a major concern for the Texas Rangers. His inability to finish plate appearances and capitalize on advantages in two-strike counts has led to high pitch counts and a lack of success on the mound. With the help of his manager and coaches, Leiter will need to work on improving his performance in these areas in order to reach his full potential as a pitcher.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the main issue with Jack Leiter’s pitching?

A: The main issue with Jack Leiter’s pitching is his inability to find the elusive strikeout pitch and finish plate appearances, particularly in two-strike counts.

Q: How has Leiter’s performance been in two-strike counts?

A: Leiter’s performance in two-strike counts has been poor, with a .323 on base percentage against him, which is the ninth-worst mark among all qualified pitchers.

Q: What is the impact of high pitch counts on Leiter’s performance?

A: High pitch counts can recklessly drive up Leiter’s pitch count, leading to early exits from games and putting more pressure on the Rangers’ bullpen.

Q: What does Leiter need to work on to improve his performance?

A: Leiter needs to work on improving his ability to finish plate appearances and capitalize on advantages in two-strike counts, as well as reducing his pitch count by being more efficient on the mound.