The Texas Rangers have officially placed rookie pitcher Jack Leiter on the 15-day injured list, a decision that is retroactive to April 3. This move is due to a blister that has developed on the middle finger of his throwing hand, which raises concerns about his ability to maintain his performance on the mound. In a corresponding move, the Rangers have recalled veteran left-handed pitcher Patrick Corbin from Triple-A Round Rock to help fill the gap in the rotation.

Leiter, who was a highly touted prospect and selected as the second overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, earned a spot in the team's starting rotation as the season commenced. His selection in part was influenced by injuries suffered by key pitchers Jon Gray and Cody Bradford during Spring Training, which opened the door for Leiter. In his first two starts of the season, Leiter demonstrated impressive form, pitching a total of 10 innings and allowing just one run, while recording a striking 10 strikeouts. He has only given up six hits and issued one walk, showcasing his ability to control the game. Particularly noteworthy is his fastball, which has averaged nearly 98 MPH, and his ability to generate swings and misses on 14.5% of his pitches. In his most recent outing against the Cincinnati Reds, Leiter managed to cruise through five scoreless innings, fanning six batters before the blister cut his game short.

Although it’s not expected that Leiter will face a long-term absence, his promising early-season run will be interrupted for at least two weeks. The Rangers have scheduled off days on April 10 and April 14, which means they may only need to utilize a fifth starter once before Leiter is eligible to return. As they navigate the upcoming schedule, pitchers Tyler Mahle, Jacob deGrom, and Kumar Rocker are slated to take the mound during this weekend’s series against the Tampa Bay Rays. Meanwhile, Patrick Corbin and Nathan Eovaldi will be tasked with the first two games in the following series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

This series will mark the team debut for the 35-year-old Corbin, who signed a one-year free agent deal worth $1.1 million in mid-March. Due to the timing of his signing and personal reasons—the recent birth of his child—Corbin did not have the chance to participate in any Spring Training games. Consequently, he agreed to be optioned to Round Rock to work on building up his stamina and pitch count. However, with Leiter’s injury, Corbin has been called up to the major leagues prior to making any appearances in Triple-A. It is expected that Corbin will have a pitch limit in place for his first start back in the big leagues.

Corbin, a two-time All-Star, has a reputation for his durability, having logged significant innings in the latter part of the Washington Nationals' rotation over recent years. Despite his past struggles, which saw him post a 5.62 ERA over 174 and two-thirds innings last season, Corbin brings experience to the Rangers. His ERA has exceeded 5.00 for four consecutive seasons; however, he has consistently managed to exceed 30 starts and 150 innings pitched in each of those years. The Rangers will be counting on Corbin to step up in this crucial moment and help stabilize their pitching staff as they navigate the early part of the season.