When New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe stepped into the batter’s box on Monday night, he saw a familiar face 60 feet, 6 inches away. The pitcher was none other than Jack Leiter, his former high school teammate from Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. In the third inning, Volpe picked up a single against Leiter, rekindling memories of their shared past.
The Yankees clinched an 8-4 victory, with Anthony Volpe contributing a run and a hit over four at-bats, while striking out twice, keeping his batting average at .254. Anthony Rizzo added two RBIs, following a single RBI in the previous game, marking the first time a Yankees starting first baseman has recorded RBIs in consecutive games since Ben Rice achieved the feat from July 27-29, according to Katie Sharp.
Anthony Volpe and Leiter: High School memories meet MLB reality
Leiter, now a right-hander for the Texas Rangers, was the second overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft and is the son of Al Leiter, a former Yankees and Mets starter. He and Anthony Volpe go way back. They were close friends and teammates at Delbarton, where they led their team to a state championship in 2019. In fact, it was Volpe who recorded the final out of their high school careers in that championship game against St. Augustine.
Their paths could have continued together beyond high school. Volpe had committed to Vanderbilt University, where Leiter also planned to play. However, the Yankees selected Anthony Volpe 30th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft, while Leiter, who was drafted by the Yankees in the 20th round, chose not to sign and instead honored his commitment to Vanderbilt. This decision paid off for Leiter, who later secured a $7.92 million contract as a top draft pick in 2021.
Leiter’s professional journey, however, has been rocky. After an outstanding freshman season at Vanderbilt, where he posted an 11-4 record with a 2.13 ERA and 179 strikeouts over 110 innings, leading the Commodores to the College World Series Finals, expectations were high. But his first professional season in 2022 was a struggle. He finished with a 3-10 record, a 5.54 ERA, 56 walks, and 109 strikeouts over 92.2 innings at the Double-A level. While his performance improved slightly in 2023, it wasn’t until the 2024 season that Leiter made his major league debut.
Leiter’s debut on April 18 against the Detroit Tigers was a rough one. He allowed eight hits and seven earned runs with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings, resulting in a no-decision in a 9-7 Rangers victory. Since then, Leiter has only made three more major league starts, spending most of the year with the Triple-A Round Rock Express. Although he boasts a 3.51 ERA and a 33.3% strikeout rate in the minors this season, his major league numbers tell a different story, with a 12.43 ERA and 2.40 WHIP through 13.1 innings.
In contrast, Anthony Volpe has enjoyed early success in his major league career. The 23-year-old, now in his second season as the Yankees’ everyday shortstop, has already won a Gold Glove Award and became the 15th rookie in MLB history to post a 20/20 season. Despite some struggles, Volpe has played in nearly every game this season and continues to show improvement.
With the Rangers’ rotation hit hard by injuries and their playoff hopes dwindling, Leiter is getting another chance to prove he’s ready for a regular role in the majors. His first test comes against a Yankees team clinging to a narrow division lead. Volpe, batting eighth, will once again face his old friend and teammate, this time on the grand stage of Major League Baseball.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
