Last up on potential targets for the Red Sox at pick number four, Vanderbilt hurler Jack Leiter.
Leiter was drafted in the 20th round of the 2019 draft by the Yankees, but chose to stay with Vandy. The son of two-time All-Star hurler Al Leiter, Jack, tied teammate Kumar Rocker for the most strikeouts at the D1 level this past season with 179 strikeouts.
He helped Vandy get to a College World Series after the Commodores lost to NC State, but NC State had COVID-19 issues which had them forfeit. Vandy would go on to lose in the World Series to Hunter Renfroe’s alma mater, Mississippi State.
The right-hander posted a 2.13 ERA this past season at Vanderbilt, through 110 innings.
Leiter features an elite fastball that tops out at 97 MPH while averaging at 90-95. Leiter has a pair of breaking pitches, which includes a 12-to-6 curveball in the upper 70s and a slider in the low 80s, which both can get hitters to chase.
The 6-foot-1 righty has drawn comparisons to former Commodore Sonny Gray, who has a career 3.52 ERA through eight seasons in the majors.
In Fangraphs’ two latest mock drafts, Leiter goes at pick number two, to the Rangers. With Leiter’s all-around talent it is unlikely he’s available at pick number four. But with the possibility of a team choosing Jobe over Leiter, and with the galore of shortstops available it is possible he’s available with the fourth pick.