The Texas Rangers are set to debut two top-tier pitchers this week, starting with rising pitcher Kumar Rocker who will make his first MLB start Thursday. The team announced the move Monday on social media.
Last week, there was some uncertainty about whether the team’s 2022 first-round pick (selected No. 3 overall out of Vanderbilt) would pitch for the Rangers this season. Manager Bruce Bochy initially rejected the ideaonly for general manager Chris Young to then say it was a possibility after Rocker struck out a combined 18 batters in two starts after being promoted to Triple-A.
In 10 innings, the right-hander allowed two runs and a walk, apparently forcing the Rangers to study him in the major leagues before next season.
Rocker began the year as a pitcher for the Texas Rookie League club before being promoted to Double-A Frisco and then Triple-A Round Rock. In 10 games (nine starts), he had a 1.96 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings. MLB.com ranked him as Rangers’ second hope This year.
The 24-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023, which is likely why there has been a difference of opinion on how often Rocker should pitch this year. Before surgery in 2023, he pitched 28 innings. In his first professional season in 2022, Rocker pitched 34 innings.
As a college freshman, Rocker pitched 99 2/3 innings for Vanderbilt, including a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts in a super regional win over Duke. He pitched 122 innings as a junior in his senior year at Vanderbilt.
Rocker is a two-time first-round draft pick, originally selected 10th overall by the New York Mets in 2021. However, Mets didn’t sign Rocker After a physical, he raised concerns about an elbow problem. Rocker did not return to Vanderbilt, but instead played in the independent Frontier League before returning to the draft and being selected by the Rangers.
The Rangers also expect Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer to pitch for them in their four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. However, with seven possible starting pitchers to work with, including Nathan Eovaldi, Cory Bradford, Andrew Heaney and Rocker’s college teammate Jack Leiter, Bochy wouldn’t commit to a timetable.
There’s also the question of how much rest DeGrom and Scherzer should take after their rehab. DeGrom hasn’t pitched since April 2023 after undergoing ACL surgery in his right elbow.