Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter has been placed on the injured list with a left ankle injury, the team announced today. To take his place on the active roster, the Rangers have recalled pitcher Jose Corniell.
Leiter had been dealing with the ankle issue for most of the season, but reportedly made it worse slipping on the on deck circle in the Rangers' April contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates. You remember the play, I'm sure, but in case you need a reminder, here it is:
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The general reaction to the play at the time was, oh ****** , now Jack Leiter is hurt. I think most of us of were surprised he even stayed in the game. Per Chris Young, Leiter felt he could pitch through the issue, but scans after his last outing showed it had gotten worse, so he's being shut down so the ankle can heal.
One might wonder whether the Rangers would have made this move sooner if they had a viable option to replace Leiter in the rotation. Jacob Latz, who was the de facto sixth starter early on, has taken on the closer role, and given the injuries the bullpen is dealing with currently, along with ineffectiveness by a lot of the non-Latz relievers, trying to stretch him out and have him starting again isn't realistic.