With the 615th overall selection in the MLB Draft, the Yankees decided to take RHP Jack Leiter out of Delbarton High School (NJ). And that name looks familiar because Jack is the son of former Yankees draftee Al Leiter.
Jack was ranked the No. 33 prospect in this year's Draft, according to MLB Pipeline, but he fell down the board due to his commitment to Vanderbilt. Reports surfaced before the Draft that the elder Leiter noted his son fulfilling his commitment.
Will that change now that Jack joins his Delbarton teammate in SS Anthony Volpe, who was the Yankees' first-round pick at No. 30? An educated guess would say no, but anything can happen.
Al Leiter spoke to SNY's John Harper about his son wanting to go to Vanderbilt to experience college.
"My son is a very good student and he wants the experience of going to college," Leiter said. "And my wife and I want him to have that experience. Vanderbilt has a great baseball program, and it's a great school. One of my daughters just graduated from there. So really this is about a life choice.
"I don't want to leave anybody hanging," he said. "If there is a phone call the day of the draft, we'll handle it. But the teams know what the situation is."
Vanderbilt touts one of the best baseball program in the country, churning out MLB prospects both in the field and on the mound. Players like David Price, Walker Buehler, and Sonny Gray are a few pitchers that Leiter can aspire to be in his college career, and he'll have the chance to make an impact once his three years are up.
"It's a tremendous program with great coaches," Leiter said. "Jack's not going to disappear. In three years they can draft him again."
Will it be the Yankees much earlier when that time comes? Maybe instead of the 20th round this time, Jack can surpass his father as a first-round pick come 2022.