Delbarton School welcomed home one of its most accomplished alumni on Tuesday as Jack Leiter ’19 returned to campus to receive the Delbarton Medal, the school’s highest honor.

Leiter was introduced by longtime head baseball coach Bruce Shatel.
“Jack is the best pitcher I’ve ever coached in my 28 years at Delbarton School,” Shatel said.

While Leiter’s baseball résumé continues to grow at the highest level, Shatel also emphasized the complete picture of the student-athlete he once coached. "An elite student during his time at Delbarton" said Shatel. "Leiter never earned anything lower than an A in any of his classes, setting a standard of excellence both on the mound and in the classroom."

Since graduating, Leiter made his Major League debut with the Texas Rangers in 2024. Across the 2024–25 season, he recorded 10 wins, continuing to establish himself as a key member of the Rangers rotation.

Headmaster Fr. Michael Tidd, O.S.B., formally presented the Delbarton Medal, welcoming Leiter back to a community that remains deeply proud of him.
“In everything you’ve accomplished in your Major League career, and for all the ways you have portrayed yourself as what a student-athlete at Delbarton is all about, we award you our school’s highest honor,” Fr. Michael said.

In his remarks, Leiter expressed gratitude for the people and place that helped shape him.
“I want to thank my parents for allowing me the opportunity to come to a place like this. It’s a privilege that I don’t take for granted,” he said.

Looking out at the students gathered before him, Leiter reflected on his own time on Mendham Road.
“I look around and realize I’m just one of you guys,” he said. “Getting an award like this makes you step back and reflect on the time you spent here—four of the most memorable and informative years of my life.”

He offered a special message to the seniors, urging them to savor every moment.
“Enjoy every day. It goes too fast, and you don’t really appreciate it until it’s over and you look back and say, ‘Wow, I just did that."

He closed with a message that resonated throughout the room, one that reflected both his mindset and his journey.
“When it comes to life, go get it. Chase your dreams. My dad always said, ‘Someone has to do it—why can’t it be you?’ You can’t control results or outcomes, but you can control your effort and your work. Don’t get outworked. Be prepared, be present, and be where your feet are.”