Leiter's Lucky Number: 21 Ks in Debut

0:00It's March 31st. Welcome to MLB News today, powered by AI and ready for first pitch. Jack later made his season debut for the Texas Rangers look like A-stuff on Monday 9. The second-year starter switched to number 22 this year. His family's lucky digit that dad outliter rocked for eight big league seasons. Against the Orioles at Camden Yards, he tossed six innings of two-run ball with H-strike outs, helping Texas' snag a 5-to-2 win. Later cranked out a career high 21 whiffs, topping even his triple-A best. His change-up and slider each fooled eight batters, while the curve and cutter added five more. Coming off of solid 2025, with a 3.86 ERA over 29 starts, this outing builds serious momentum. Rangers fans and scouts see that top of the rotation shine in the 23-year-old. No surprise from a dude with his pedigree, Al was a four-time all-star. The leaders owning it now, proving the hype without needing extra luck from that Jersey

1:01swap. He didn't start perfect though. First inning brought a solo homer to Gunner Henderson, and a double from Adley Rutchman, with just one called strike. Then he flipped the script, walking one guy in the second, and shutting down the next three frames clean. Expect more dominance like this as later settles in. If he keeps bouncing back this sharp, the Rangers rotation just got a whole lot deeper.