The Texas Rangers are expected to feature two significant pitching debuts this week, beginning with top prospect Kumar Rocker making his first MLB start on 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 shot down the idea, only for GM Chris Young to then say it was a possibility after Rocker struck out 18 combined batters in two starts after being promoted to Triple-A.
In 10 innings, the right-hander allowed two runs and one walk, which apparently compelled the Rangers to get a look at him in the majors before next season.
Rocker began the year pitching for Texas’ Rookie League club before he was promoted to Double-A Frisco and then Triple-A Round Rock. In 10 games (nine starts), he compiled a 1.96 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings. MLB.com ranked him as the Rangers’ No. 2 prospect this year.
The 24-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2023, which likely explains why there was a difference of opinion as to how much Rocker should pitch this year. Prior to surgery in 2023, he threw 28 innings. In his first professional season in 2022, Rocker pitched 34 innings.
As a freshman in college, Rocker threw 99 2/3 innings for Vanderbilt, including tossing a no-hitter with 19 strikeouts in a super regional win over Duke. He threw 122 innings as a junior in his final year at Vanderbilt.
Rocker is a two-time first-round draft pick, initially being selected No. 10 overall by the New York Mets in 2021. However, the Mets did not sign Rocker after a physical raised concerns about an elbow issue. Rocker didn’t return to Vanderbilt, instead pitching in the independent Frontier League before he went back into the draft and was picked by the Rangers.
The Rangers are also expecting Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer to pitch for them during 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 schedule.
There’s also the question of how much rest deGrom and Scherzer need coming off rehab assignments. DeGrom has not pitched since April 2023 after undergoing surgery on the UCL in his right elbow.