Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter saw his 2026 suddenly come to a halt due to a concerning ankle injury. Now, he is set to face a lengthy absence.
Leiter isn’t necessarily out for the season though. There is no timetable for his return after Wednesday’s surgery, but the right-hander could return before the end of the campaign, via Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.
“Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter had an arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his ankle region this morning. The surgery was performed by Dr. Ned Amendola at Duke University,” Landry wrote. “The Rangers expect him back before the end of the season, but timeline is fluid.”
While the Rangers may be hopeful about a late season return, Leiter still has a long recovery road ahead of himself. His ankle issues had been plaguing him throughout the season. The issue is now taken care of, but the right-hander will also officially be off the mound for the foreseeable future.
When healthy, Leiter was having a season to forget with his 5.29 ERA. But he did have an 83/35 K/BB ratio and has shown flashes of brilliance in the past. During the 2025 season, Leiter posted a 3.86 ERA and a 148/67 K/BB ratio over 29 starts.
For now, Leiter’s injury status is a bit unknown. Surgery undoubtedly keeps him out of action, but for how long remains uncertain. Perhaps how the Rangers are faring towards playoff time will determine if Leiter returns in 2026. Ultimately, if he is going to be on the mound, Texas wants him to be fully healthy.
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