NJ’s Jack Leiter Will Make MLB History In His 1st Start

Jack Leiter will make history this afternoon when he takes the mound for the Texas Rangers against the Detroit Tigers for his MLB debut.

The son of former New York Mets and Yankees pitcher Al Leiter, Jack's uncle (Mark) and cousin (Mark Jr) also played at the major league level, making the Leiter family the first brothers in MLB history to have sons who made it to the majors.

The road to the major leagues began for Jack in nearby Summit NJ where he played his youth baseball and continued in Morristown where he attended high school at Delbarton.

Following two stellar years at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Jack was the second pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft, joining his former Delbarton teammate Anthony Volpe as a first-round pick.

Back when Jack was drafted, his high school coach Bruce Shatel spoke with us about Jack's high school career, how he was doing at the time at Vanderbilt, and what Jack's future might be.

Well, I was just remarkable. It was just a moment where you feel so proud of the kid who's worked extremely hard at his craft for a long period of time. It was just a thrill for him. It was a tremendous moment for him and his family and his teammates.

Every time out, we've got an A plus effort from him. Really strong performance. He was a guy who was a quiet leader, led by example. Never had to worry about him doing his work and others gravitated towards him.

He was a leader on our pitch and staff that, you know, guys have been doing this for a long time. And I think that's what all of his habits and they learned how to do things correctly and what it takes to get to the next level.

So, you know, I see that today out of our pitchers. Some of the things that Jack used to do in terms of his preparation. You know, they're still doing it today.

I kind of chuckle at some of these announcer saying that, you know, Jack's a late bloomer.

You know, Jack was throwing 98 miles an hour in the county final, you know, just two years ago. He's a much better pitcher, I think, today than he was in 2019.

His stuff was electric in high school.  You know, what I see out of him now is a lot of similarities from when he was pitching at Delbarton.

(He has a) very explosive fastball, a fastball that misses bats, you know, a pro-breaking ball. But, you know, his senior year he started throwing a slider that was just lethal.

One thing that he's doing now in college that he didn't need to do at the high school level, and I think he's going to have to do it at the pro level even more.

He's going to have to throw his change up a lot more.

The composure, his ability to field his position, to hold runners, you know, he was doing that stuff in high school. He's just doing it now against better hitters in the SEC.

That credit goes to his father (Al).

His father's been teaching him, you know, all the intangibles about being a high-level pitcher for a long period of time. And so much of pitching in the mental side of things.

Jack's done a really good job of absorbing, you know, the valuable lessons that his father was able to teach him in his home.

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Spring is really in full swing now and it feels great. Sure, in Jersey, we get hit-or-miss weather (so do most places). However, we’ve had a few really Spring-like days here and it’s so nice. Soon the weather will heat up and it’ll be time to head to the beach or spend the day by the pool. Of course, you’ll want to look and feel your best, so let’s take a look at 5 great ways to Shape Up this Spring in Jersey.

Let me start by stating that I am not a doctor. Actually, I know so little about the medical field that it bears repeating – I am not a doctor. So if you are going to take any of my ideas for getting in better shape and put them to use, I ask that you check with your doctor first! And remember that no matter what you do to try and get healthier, take it slow. If you’re like me, you want immediate results. But unfortunately, that’s not usually how it works. It takes time. Be okay with that and you won’t get discouraged.

What I’m listing below are only a few of the ways you can get in shape or more fit. Keep in mind that here in Jersey we have so much for you to do and try and the possibilities of finding some good, healthy activities are almost endless.

Whether you are into being outdoors or staying in the air conditioning, there really is something for almost everyone. Keep in mind though – it is Spring, so you really should take advantage of that warmer, pleasant weather. I mean, you’ve been cooped up inside your house for the past several months, so why not get out and enjoy something fun?!

Below, let’s take a look at 5 great ways to shape up this Spring in Jersey.

Morris County has some awesome spots to walk! Walking is great for cardiovascular health and can be relaxing too!!

https://www.morrisparks.net/parks-trails/find-a-park/

Great for the mind and body!  And this place is offering free online classes, but is accepting donations! Check them out or a Yoga Studio by you!

https://www.newarkyogamovement.org/freeclasses

You can take dance lessons at a local school.  You can do a dance workout at home or much simpler.....turn up the tunes in your house and get wild.  It will release endorphins and although you may look silly it has some great benefits.

You can find a place offering a boot camp.  They are high intensity workouts that can help you get in better shape!  Call your local gym or search online for a spot!

You can take a stroll through the mall.  Maybe head to your downtown area and walk a few blocks while browsing.  Or park far away as you actually shop some stores!