Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter has struggled with his breaking ball early in 2026. Opposing teams have gone 10 for 28, yielding a batting average of .357 with 3 home runs.

These struggles stem from multiple strategic changes made to his breaking ball. Jack Leiter has two types: a curveball and a slider. Over the first month of 2025, he threw 84 breaking balls, increasing usage by 67.9% to 141 in early 2026. 

He has thrown 75 breaking balls to left-handed batters, up 114.3% from 35 out of 84 in early 2025. The increased use against left-handed batters is an issue, as his arm angle is now 51.1 degrees, 2.4 degrees higher than it was in early 2025. 

Consequently, his horizontal movement on breaking balls has decreased. Jack Leiter is a right-handed pitcher who throws his breaking balls towards the left-handed batter’s box. He averaged 5.5 inches of glove-side movement during the first month of 2025. As a result, breaking balls would often land slightly outside the strike zone. 

On April 27 2025, he faced the San Francisco Giants. In the top of the fourth inning, he threw a slider to third baseman Matt Chapman. He aimed the pick down the middle, and it ended up an inch outside the strike zone. Unfortunately, Matt Chapman did not swing, and it was called a ball.

Horizontal movement in 2025 helped him hold opposing teams to a batting average of .059 against breaking pitches. Leiter’s results have changed in 2026: he now averages 3.9 inches of horizontal movement, 29.1% less than in early 2025. 

Consequently, breaking balls are landing in the strike zone at a significantly higher frequency. He has thrown 62 in the zone, 77.1% more than in the first month of 2025.

50% of breaking balls in the strike zone have gone to left-handed batters, who are 5 for 12 for an average of .417 and one home run. It is the catalyst behind left-handed batters hitting .375 versus breaking balls with two home runs. This represents a 375% increase compared to the first month of 2025, when left-handed batters did not record a hit against breaking balls.

Jack Leiter performed better when not throwing breaking balls, as opponents hit .250 with one homer on non-breaking pitches. Consequently, he should consider reducing his breaking-ball usage, as it will help him perform better statistically.