Leiter's revamped changeup has become a breakout tool for the Rangers. In six innings against Oakland, he threw 26 changeups—the second-most in the game—sparking whiffs and weak contact while his fastball and curve tightened around it. Bochy calls it a big pitch with growing command, signaling a possible ceiling-raising breakout in Texas.

Dunning's forkball anecdote—spring fodder that some pitchers shelve—highlights how quick tweaks can fade. Leiter's trust in the changeup, plus a faster curve, could unlock a higher strikeout rate and more in-season fantasy value for Rangers starters. The piece frames Leiter as a blueprint for a transformative season.