The Dodgers just pulled the trigger on a big move for their pitching pipeline, promoting Cam Leiter from Class-A Ontario to advanced Class-A Great Lakers on Thursday, August 20. This dude isn’t just another arm; he’s got serious baseball blood, being the nephew of former big leaguers Al and Mark Leiter, plus two cousins, Mark Leiter Jr. and Jack Leiter, who already hit the majors. It’s a family business, and Cam’s clearly making his mark.
From Injury Setback to Fast Track
This promotion is even more wild when you consider what Leiter’s been through. The Dodgers snagged him as their second-round draft pick, 65th overall, out of Florida State last year. But here’s the kicker: he didn’t pitch a single inning in 2025, his junior year of college, because of shoulder surgery back in October 2024. That’s a huge chunk of time off. Yet, before the draft, he threw a bullpen session for personnel from 23 MLB clubs down at the Boras Corp facility in Miami. The Dodgers still shelled out $1,346,600 to sign him. Now, seeing him tear it up, that money looks like a total bargain.
The Numbers Don’t Lie: That Fastball is Back
Leiter’s 2026 performance? Straight fire. He’s rocking a 3.09 ERA across 18 starts, and get this: opponents are only hitting .197 against him in the hitter-friendly California League. Think about that for a second! In 43.2 innings, he’s punched out 66 batters, though he did walk 22. In his most recent start on August 16, he fanned five guys in just three innings. This kid’s been eased back, only throwing more than three innings once all season, but his stuff is clearly there. He’s reportedly touching 98 mph with his fastball, which is huge news, meaning it’s back to pre-surgery form. MLB Pipeline’s scouting report confirmed it, noting his fastball worked at 95-96 mph, touching 99 mph, with both carry and heavy sink. His 78-82 mph curveball and 85-89 mph slider/cutter both graded as plus pitches, showing real depth. He’s even got an upper-80s changeup/splitter that apparently gets more strikes than his breaking balls.
This move tells you everything about what the Dodgers think of Leiter’s recovery and his potential. It’s an early season promotion that puts him squarely on the radar. Keep an eye on this kid, because he’s coming back strong and fast.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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