KUMAR ROCKER NEWS

Shows improvement Friday Rocker allowed three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two over 2.1 innings in Friday's spring start against the Padres.

Impact Against San Diego's potential Opening Day roster, Rocker showed slight improvement from his first two Cactus League starts, when he allowed eight runs over two innings. His 22.85 spring ERA suggests a rotation spot is a long shot, but events elsewhere Friday improved Rocker's chances. Jon Gray suffered a fractured wrist during a split-squad game against the Rockies which contributed to the unsettled nature of Texas' rotation. Gray will join Cody Bradford (elbow) on the injured list to open the season, opening up potential spots for Rocker and Jack Leiter.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rocker could be next man up as injuries impact TEX rotation PEORIA, Ariz. -- In the midst of his third Cactus League start, Kumar Rocker may have become a little bit more important to the Rangers.

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

Bradford's delay opens door for Leiter, Rocker SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The competition in Rangers camp just got a little more open. Texas had a rather deep rotation at the start of Spring Trai...

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Aiming for final slot in rotation Rocker is competing with Jack Leiter to fill the spot in the Rangers' rotation vacated by Cody Bradford (elbow), Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact The former college teammates and current pro teammates will go head-to-head for the right to serve as the Rangers' fifth starter while Bradford recuperates from left elbow soreness. Rocker has been blasted for eight runs over two innings in his two Cactus League starts this spring, but he threw three hitless frames in an intrasquad game last weekend. Leiter, meanwhile, has pitched much better with a 2.53 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 10.2 innings, although he was shaky his last time out. It's unclear which of the two righties might have the current edge, but with the injury history of some of the other Rangers starters, there's a decent chance both Rocker and Leiter will wind up spending a significant portion of the season in the Texas rotation.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Works out issue on backfields Rocker pitched an intrasquad game in the backfields Saturday and tossed three hitless innings, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Rocker did issue one walk and hit a batter, but the right-hander was pleased with the progress made after allowing eight runs in his first two Cactus League innings. "That was better," Rocker said. "A lot better. That's what we needed. I was able to take a step back and work on the process and try to find the results." Texas general manager Chris Young said the 25-year-old Rocker is medically fine after undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery, and that the issues early this spring were fixable mechanical things. It's not yet clear when Rocker will throw next in a live game.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kumar Rocker, Rangers rotation hopeful, shows progress in unofficial third start of spring The 25-year-old threw 39 pitches (23 for strikes) Saturday to a group of that included Joc Pederson, Josh Smith and Jonah Heim.

MARCH 8 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Shelled again Rocker allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over one inning in Saturday's spring start against the Cubs.

Impact This was Rocker's second Cactus League start and looked very much like his first, when the right-hander gave up four runs in an inning. The main difference in the two starts is that Rocker was pulled early in the first inning and once again an inning later Saturday. He entered camp in the mix for a rotation spot but owns a 36.00 ERA through two starts.

MARCH 2 • ROTOWIRE

Begins bid for rotation Rocker allowed four runs on four hits while striking out one over one inning in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals.

Impact Rocker's quest for a spot in the Rangers' rotation got off to a rocky start in his Cactus League debut. The right-hander hit the first batter faced and allowed loud contact during his one inning, during which he threw 22 pitches (14 strikes). Rocker told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that he was leaving pitches up in the zone which contributed to three hard-hit balls. He appears to be outside the top five starters but with a good spring season going forward, Rocker could force the coaching staff's hand.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Does Kumar Rocker have a path to make Texas Rangers' crowded starting rotation? Rocker made his first Cactus League start of spring training on Tuesday and is in the midst of a competition for a spot in the Rangers’ rota...

FEBRUARY 26 • DALLASNEWS.COM

May miss out on rotation spot Rocker doesn't project to make the Rangers rotation if the five starters ahead of him are healthy, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact With Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jon Gray, Cody Bradford and Tyler Mahle all healthy, Landry expects Rocker to begin the year at Triple-A as a depth option. Of course, those five starters may not all remain healthy between now and Opening Day, and Rocker has little to prove on the farm, so he should still make the majority of his 2025 appearances in the big leagues.

FEBRUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

3 Rangers observations from start of spring training: Kumar Rocker roster talk and more Chris Young also gave some early indications on what the team’s bullpen might look like coming out of spring training.

FEBRUARY 13 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Rangers' Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter are forever linked. Now both vie for rotation spots The two are former Vanderbilt aces, who the Texas Rangers drafted second and third overall.

JANUARY 20 • DALLASNEWS.COM

Optioned to Triple-A The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.

Impact Rocker made his final start of the season Thursday against Oakland, so the Rangers will send him and Jack Leiter back out to the minors in order to bring in additional bullpen depth in the form of Marc Church and Daniel Robert. Rocker will finish the 2024 campaign with a 3.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP alongside a 14:6 K:BB through 11.2 innings after making the first three starts of his MLB career in September.

SEPTEMBER 27, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Takes loss against A's Rocker (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Athletics, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out two.

Impact Rocker pitched into the fifth inning for the first time in three starts this season but was attributed his second straight loss. Encouragingly, the rookie didn't walk a batter Thursday after walking six in his first two outings (seven innings). At 24 years old, Rocker is one of baseball's best pitching prospects. He allowed three runs across 29.2 combined innings at Double-A and Triple-A.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Control issues in second start Rocker (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks across three innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five.

Impact Rocker's second start was a bit rockier than his first, needing 71 pitches to complete three frames. He struck out five but also allowed five free passes including four via bases on balls and a fifth coming by way of a hit-by-pitch. Despite his control trouble, his one earned run allowed was scored without allowing a hit and the second run allowed came off of a throwing error. The highly-touted rookie has allowed one earned run in each of his first two outings spanning seven innings and is set to make one more start to close out the season, coming in a road matchup against either the Athletics or the Angels.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Rocker's home debut plagued by uncharacteristic free passes ARLINGTON -- Kumar Rocker felt he overthrew in his Major League debut a week ago in Seattle, so he tried to dial it down a little bit as he...

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 • MLB.COM

Expected to get start next week Rocker is expected to make another start for the Rangers during the final week of the season, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Rocker will make his second major-league start Thursday versus the Blue Jays after he struck out seven and allowed one run over four innings in his major-league debut last week against the Mariners. The Rangers are currently working with a six-man rotation and could theoretically expand to seven if they choose to give Jack Leiter another start. There's also Rocker's workload to consider in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. However, it sounds like Thursday's outing versus Seattle will not be his final one of the season. Rocker will face either the Athletics or the Angels on the road next week.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Kumar Rocker May Appear Unfazed, But Texas Rangers Rookie Leaning On Veteran Teammates Ahead Of First Home Start ARLINGTON — Kumar Rocker likes to throw a football when he's anxious. It makes sense on several levels for the Texas Rangers young pitching...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024 • SI.COM

Kumar Rocker Is Finally Here, Plus Five Overlooked Rookie Hurlers The former Vanderbilt star may be the Rangers’ next ace after taking a circuitous path to the majors and making an electric MLB debut.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

Next start coming Thursday Rocker is scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Blue Jays in Arlington.

Impact Rocker was called up from Triple-A Round Rock last week and ended up taking the rotation spot of fellow rookie and former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter, who was moved to the bullpen. After submitting stellar numbers in the minors upon completing his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Rocker continued to shine in his MLB debut this past Thursday, striking out seven and inducing 17 swinging strikes while allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks over four innings. Rocker was lifted after 74 pitches, and though the Rangers will likely be conservative with his workload over what projects to be two more starts this season, he should be a strong source of strikeouts down the stretch.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

From Vandy to the bigs, Rocker and Leiter's bond remains This story was excerpted from Kennedi Landry’s Rangers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it reg...

SEPTEMBER 15, 2024 • MLB.COM

Kumar Rocker Was Electric in His Long-Awaited Major League Debut Rocker struck out seven and generated 17 whiffs in four innings.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • KANSASCITY.COM

Fans seven in debut Rocker did not factor into the decision in a win over Seattle on Thursday, allowing one run on three hits and two walks over four innings while striking out seven.

Impact Rocker certainly held his own in his big league debut, recording seven strikeouts over four innings while generating 17 whiffs. The 24-year-old also managed to pitch his way out of a few jams after allowing the leadoff man to reach in the first and third innings, though he would be relieved by Gerson Garabito to open the fifth after reaching 74 pitches. Rocker will look to improve upon his promising first start next week, assuming the Rangers keep the rookie around for at least another turn in the rotation.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Officially promoted for MLB debut The Rangers selected Rocker's contract from Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday.

Impact Rocker has dominated at the Double-A and Triple-A levels since returning from Tommy John surgery, logging a minuscule 0.91 ERA and 0.57 WHIP alongside a 47:4 K:BB across 29.2 total innings. He has yet to last more than five frames in any start he's made this year, though he still projects to be a valuable fantasy asset. He will be making his major-league debut Thursday against a Mariners offense that owns the sixth-worst OPS in the majors and has struck out more than any other team.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Set for MLB debut Thursday Rocker will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to make his major-league debut Thursday in Seattle, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact The Rangers hadn't initially planned to promote Rocker to the big leagues in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, but the big right-hander has been so dominant that he's forced their hand. Rocker permitted six runs (three earned) over three innings in his third rehab start with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate, but in seven outings since then between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, he's collected a 0.91 ERA and 47:4 K:BB over 29.2 innings. He has not thrown more than 72 pitches or gone more than five frames in a start, and Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News has reported that the Rangers would like to keep Rocker at around 50 total innings for this season. If the club sticks to that number, it would leave Rocker with approximately 13.1 frames left in 2024.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE