Hi and thanks for reaching us.

Are you sure this is a leader and not a side branch? If it's the latter, you can remove it. If it really is the leader branch, you'll need to splint it. Splinting a tree is the action of straightening a floppy leader or to take a side branch and create a new leader.

The time to splint is now when the branch is flexible. To splint,  you need a long rigid stake (plastic metal, wood, bamboo) that will not bend easily; than the split. You first tie the splint to the trunk of the tree in 2 spots at minimum, 3 is better. Second, attach the leader to the splint. 2 or 3 attach points will be needed.

I used this method several times with good results. Using a long splint is the key; you need 2 -3 ' of length on the main trunk.

More info: https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/staking-and-guying-trees#how-to-splint-2021413

Good luck,