The Vanderbilt Commodores have quite the 1-2 duo in the starting rotation. Like, a historically special duo. Vanderbilt starting pitcher Kumar Rocker has been viewed as the favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, and if it’s not him, it may very well be another member of the Commodores’ rotation.
Jack Leiter — the son of former MLB All-Star pitcher Al Leiter — threw a no-hitter in his SEC debut against the South Carolina Gamecocks on Saturday. The sophomore right-hander walked only one batter (on a 3-2 pitch vs the game’s leadoff hitter) and struck out 16.
And Leiter followed it up with another hitless outing. In Vanderbilt’s 11-3 win over Missouri on Friday night, Leiter threw seven no-hit innings before being pulled. He walked two batters and struck out 10.
Final line on @jackleiter22 🔋
7.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 10 K#VandyBoys | #AnchorDown pic.twitter.com/UqHB4tqyUz
— Vanderbilt Baseball (@VandyBoys) March 27, 2021
.@VandyBoys with an impressive decision taking Jack Leiter out after seven no-hit innings against Missouri with a pitch count over 100. This after throwing a no-hitter last weekend. Incredible run by Leiter. #AnchorDown
— Kendall Rogers (@KendallRogers) March 27, 2021
Here’s a look at some of the filthy breaking balls and 95+ mph fastballs he was using to befuddle Missouri hitters:
Jack Leiter, K'ing the Side.
At least it wasn't all fastballs. It was getting boring.
And, still, no one is talking to him. 🤫 pic.twitter.com/jXKj5crZ8s
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 27, 2021
Jack Leiter, Bowel-Locking Curveball…and Insta-K Strut.
9th K.
And still…🤫 pic.twitter.com/Ri3xjycSka
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 27, 2021
Jack Leiter. 10th K.
🤫 thru 7. pic.twitter.com/4xedgFelQe
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 27, 2021
The eye test is certainly matching what the box score says in these starts. Just ridiculous stuff from Leiter, who now has a 0.25 ERA on the season.
Rocker pitched on Thursday night, and actually allowed an earned run… raising his ERA to 0.97.
In a combined 10 starts this season, Leiter and Rocker are 10-0 with a 0.45 ERA.
Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker in 10 combined starts this season:
10-0, 0.45 ERA, 0.65 WHIP, .092 OPBA, 14.7 K/9
Leiter has not surrendered an extra base hit so far this season…We could be witnessing the best pitching duo in college baseball history.
— Aram Leighton (@AramLeighton8) March 27, 2021
Before Leiter’s start, Baseball America announced that Leiter has moved to No. 2 in their draft rankings, right behind Rocker. If they were to go 1-2 in the draft, they would be the first teammates to ever do so. Trevor Bauer and Gerrit Cole (who are naturally a duo people point to in comparison to Leiter and Rocker) went No. 1 and 3 in the draft as UCLA teammates in 2011.
Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter are 1 vs. 2 in our new draft rankings 👀
New BA 300: https://t.co/4PR2psxnz6 pic.twitter.com/oGcdLo8tjk
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) March 26, 2021
So, it will be fun to see the video game numbers Leiter and Rocker put up this season, and to see where they go in the draft (very possibly 1-2, in whichever order).
