Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Slated for mound work next week
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Rocker (shoulder) said Thursday that he will likely throw a bullpen session next week, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker -- who was placed on the 15-day injured list last week with a right shoulder impingement -- has been throwing on flat ground and should take the next step of his progression soon. The rookie right-hander is eligible for activation late next week, but it does not sound like he will be ready to return at that time.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Lands on injured list
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Rocker was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder impingement Thursday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker was crushed in a short outing Wednesday for five earned runs across only 1.2 innings. It's unclear if he was dealing with the issue at that point, but he'll now be sidelined for at least the next couple weeks and potentially longer.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Career-high eight strikeouts in win
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Rocker (1-2) earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits and no walks in seven innings Thursday against the Angels. He struck out eight.
The seven frames and eight punchouts both set career highs for the hard-throwing right-hander, who was outstanding Thursday. Jorge Soler plated a run in the opening frame, and Luis Rengifo drove in a pair in the fifth inning, but Rocker threw five spotless innings otherwise. Rocker will look to further improve on his 6.38 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 14:4 K:BB through four starts (18.1 innings) in his next outing, which is likely to come against a hard-hitting Athletics lineup in Sacramento next week.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Goes just 3.1 frames in loss
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Rocker (0-2) took the loss against Seattle on Saturday, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 3.1 innings.
Rocker began his outing with two scoreless frames, but he was torched for four runs in the third. The right-hander returned for the fourth inning but was pulled after giving up a one-out single. Rocker has struggled in two of his three outings so far this season, resulting in a poor 7.94 ERA and 1.94 WHIP overall. He hasn't been able to miss many bats, tallying just six strikeouts while issuing four walks through 11.1 frames.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Crushed in Cincinnati
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Rocker (0-1) allowed six runs on seven hits and two walks over three innings Monday, striking out three and taking a loss against Cincinnati.
The Reds jumped on Rocker right out of the gate with a three-run first inning, spearheaded by Matt McLain's two-run homer. Things got worse in the second with Elly De La Cruz's three-run jack. Rocker gave up just one long ball through 11.2 frames at the MLB level last year. He touched 97 mph with the fastball and forced 10 swinging strikes on 74 total pitches (45 strikes). His next start is lined up to be at home against the Rays this weekend.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Shows improvement Friday
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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.
Against San Diego's potential Opening Day lineup, 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, potentially opening up spots for both Rocker and Jack Leiter.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Works out issue on backfields
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Rocker pitched in an intrasquad game on the backfields Saturday and tossed three hitless innings, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
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 in 2023, and that the issues early this spring were fixable mechanical things, something he did in the team's pitching lab. It's not yet clear when Rocker will throw next in a live game.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Begins bid for rotation
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Rocker allowed four runs on four hits while striking out one over one inning in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals.
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. Early in camp, 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.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
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.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Control issues in second start
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Rocker (0-1) took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks across three innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five.
Rocker's second start was a bit rockier than his first, needing 71 pitches to complete three frames. In addition to the four walks, he also allowed a baserunner by way of a hit-by-pitch. Despite the 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.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Set for MLB debut Thursday
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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.
The Rangers hadn't initially planned to promote Rocker to the big leagues in his first season 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' rookie-level 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.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: MLB debut in 2024 not ruled out
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Rangers general manager Chris Young on Sunday said the team has not ruled out the possibility of Rocker making his major-league debut before the end of this season, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Rocker has been electric since returning in early July following his rehab from Tommy John surgery. Since moving up to Double-A Frisco and more recently Triple-A Round Rock, he's allowed just three runs while posting a ridiculous 47:4 K:BB over 29.2 innings over seven starts. There are factors working against a potential late-season promotion, chief among them is that the Rangers already have more starters than they have rotation spots. However, if Texas believes there's a real chance Rocker could open 2025 in its rotation, it might make sense to give him a test run this month.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Cleared for rehab assignment
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Rocker (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Rocker is finally ready to pitch in a game after having Tommy John surgery in May of 2023. He last pitched at High-A Hickory and could eventually head back to that affiliate once the Rangers feel he's ready.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Tommy John surgery completed
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Rocker (elbow) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
Rocker had his surgery performed in Arlington, Texas under the supervision of Dr. Keith Meister, one of the nation's top orthopedic surgeons. Though Rangers general manager Chris Young stated the elbow injury wasn't related to the pre-draft concerns that resulted in Rocker going unsigned by the Mets in 2021 before he was selected by Texas with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, it's a troubling setback on the health front for the 23-year-old nonetheless. Rocker, who previously underwent arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder in September 2021, will likely be sidelined until late in the 2024 season.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Headed for Tommy John surgery
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Rocker will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow later this week, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
The No. 3 overall selection by the Rangers in the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, Rocker made his organizational debut with High-A Hickory this season, registering a 3.86 ERA with a 42:7 K:BB over 28 innings. Before signing with the Rangers, the 23-year-old was a first-round pick of the Mets in 2021, but he ended up not signing with the club, due in part to that organization's concerns about his elbow. Rocker will now miss the rest of the 2023 season and likely most of the 2024 season recovering from surgery in what represents a significant setback to his development.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Back on track at High-A
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Rocker has a 3.86 ERA and 42:7 K:BB ratio in 28 innings over six starts at High-A Hickory.
Rocker at age 23 is much older than his competition, but the larger point is that his career looks back on track after a tumultuous last few years. He was drafted 10th overall by the Mets in 2021 before they learned of a shoulder issue during a post-draft, pre-contract physical. He had arthroscopic surgery in September 2021 and then pitched in the independent leagues. Rocker was then drafted in the first round in 2022 and didn't pitch in affiliated ball until the 2022 Arizona Fall League, where he struggled with his command (12 BB in 14 IP). It looks like he's back on track, and he has the talent to be promoted aggressively, but the Rangers may also want to see him continue to gain confidence at High-A.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Makes spring debut
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Rocker allowed one hit over a scoreless eighth inning in Tuesday's spring game against the Rockies.
Rocker, who was drafted in the first round of 2022, didn't pitch in affiliated ball until the Arizona Fall League, so he was getting his first taste against big-league hitters. The right-hander threw 13 pitches while mixing in off-speed stuff, and he worked around a leadoff single by getting a flyout and double-play grounder. Rocker's path from Vanderbilt to the majors was a rocky one. He was drafted 10th overall by the Mets in 2021 before they learned of a shoulder issue during a post-draft, pre-contract physical. He had arthroscopic surgery in September 2021 and then pitched in the independent leagues, giving teams a chance to see him pitch before the 2022 draft. The Rangers may be less aggressive with Rocker than they were with his Vanderbilt teammate, Jack Leiter, who opened his pro career at Double-A Frisco. The 23-year-old Rocker may be headed for High-A Hickory.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Won't debut in minors until 2023
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The Rangers announced Thursday that Rocker won't pitch again until the team's Fall Instructional League camp, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.
The 22-year-old right-hander underwent arthroscopic surgery last September but looked plenty healthy while making his professional debut earlier in 2022 for the Tri-City Valley Cats of the independent Frontier League. Though Rocker covered only 20 innings with the Valley Cats before being selected by the Rangers with the No. 3 overall pick in July's first-year player draft, the organization apparently saw enough from him in independent ball to close the books on his 2022 campaign. Rocker, who signed below slot for a $5.2 million bonus, could open his minor-league career in 2023 at Double-A Frisco, just like former Vanderbilt teammate and Rangers organization mate Jack Leiter -- the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft -- did earlier this season.
