Jack Leiter is back on a mound, and at this point in September that qualifies as a meaningful sight for the Rangers.
The right-hander threw a bullpen session Sunday at Globe Life Field, his first since biceps soreness shut down his rehabilitation work following an Aug. 27 outing. Texas has six regular-season games remaining and holds a one-game American League West lead over Houston, leaving little room for a slow recovery.
Quick facts
- Leiter threw a bullpen Sunday in Arlington after several weeks without mound work.
- He had right ankle surgery on June 23 to remove a loose body.
- Before the biceps issue, he made three rehab appearances: two starts and one relief outing.
- Texas may view a relief role as the most realistic late-season path for Leiter.
- The Rangers lead the Astros by one game in the AL West with six games to play.
Manager Skip Schumaker said Leiter looked sound physically and that his ankle came through the session well. Still, the club is not ready to rush the next step after a lengthy break from throwing bullpens.
“We need every available arm we can get,” Schumaker said, while stressing that Sunday represented only the first bullpen in some time. The encouraging part was simply seeing Leiter back in the bullpen; the Rangers intend to give the process more time.
Leiter had been trying to return before the end of the regular season after the June procedure. He spent a week at the organization’s complex in Surprise, Arizona, during the Rangers’ previous road trip, then returned to Arlington to continue building his arm back up.
His planned return has changed shape as the calendar has tightened. Texas initially had him stretching out as a starter, but a bullpen assignment now makes more practical sense if he reaches the club at all this season.
The 25-year-old battled the ankle problem early in the year and posted a 5.29 ERA across 15 starts. His latest interruption means any game action is now likely dependent on the Rangers reaching October.
Leiter said he hopes to throw another bullpen in roughly three days. After that, he and the club will assess both his condition and the standings before deciding whether to keep building toward a possible postseason appearance or turn the focus fully toward the offseason.
“Hopefully, we’re past the difficult part,” Leiter said. “It has been good so far.” He added that neither side is eliminating the possibility of a return, even with the uncertainty surrounding the final week.
The need is clear. Cal Quantrill went on the injured list Sept. 20, while Nathan Eovaldi returned from his own IL stay without a minor league assignment and is building his workload with the major league team. MacKenzie Gore, the club leader with 32 starts and 165 2/3 innings, also dealt with muscle spasms in his most recent start.
That strain has placed extra weight on the Texas bullpen during the stretch run. A healthy Leiter would give Schumaker another option, even if it is only for short relief rather than a full starter’s workload.
For Leiter, though, the larger target remains 2026. He said the priority is entering the winter healthy, with each pain-free catch session and mound appearance counting as a step in the right direction.
The postseason chase is still in the back of his mind, as it is throughout the Rangers’ clubhouse. But Leiter is keeping the immediate assignment simple: get back on the mound, feel right the next day, and see whether there is still a meaningful October inning waiting for him.
