Kumar Rocker - Page 8 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

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, 2025 • 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, 2025 • 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

MLB debut in 2024 not ruled out 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 t...

Impact 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 cover seven starts. There are factors working against a potential late-season promotion, chief among them is that the Rangers already having 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.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Dazzles with 10 Ks Rocker struck out 10 while allowing one hit and zero walks over five scoreless innings Wednesday for Triple-A Round Rock.

Impact Rocker had a 0.46 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 29 strikeouts in 19.2 innings across five starts for Double-A Frisco, but he saved his best pro start to date for his Triple-A debut Wednesday. The No. 3 overall pick in 2022, Rocker came off the injured list 14 months after his Tommy John surgery, and he's pitching as well as he has in years. Rocker used his elite slider 39 percent of the time and got whiffs on it on a whopping 79 percent of swings. He also averaged 98.2 mph with his four-seam fastball, so Rucker's stuff is arguably as good as it has ever been. No prospect has improved their stock more than Rocker in the past month.

AUGUST 29, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Moving up to Triple-A Rangers general manager Chris Young confirmed Thursday that Rocker will be promoted from Double-A Frisco to make his next start with Triple-A Round Rock, Evan Grant of The Dallas M...

Impact Rocker is expected to fill the rotation spot of Jack Leiter, who is in line to receive a promotion to the big leagues next week. The 24-year-old right-hander has bounced back impressively from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, as he returned to action for Frisco shortly after the All-Star break and has delivered a 0.46 ERA, 0.61 WHIP and 29:3 K:BB over 19.2 innings. Rocker's workload has been managed carefully coming off elbow surgery, but he took a big step forward in his most recent outing for Frisco on Wednesday, when he reached season highs in both innings (4.2) and pitches (70).

AUGUST 24, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Heading to Double-A Rocker will be activated from High-A Hickory's 60-day injured list and will be assigned to Double-A Frisco on Friday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Impact Even though Rocker made only six starts with Hickory in 2023 before undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery last May, the Rangers have seen enough from the right-hander during his rehab assignment in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League to have him bypass a return to the South Atlantic League. Rocker built up to three innings in his most recent ACL outing and has turned in a 6.43 ERA, 1.71 WHIP and 8:1 K:BB in seven innings through his three rehab starts. While Rocker's numbers haven't been overly impressive, Wilson notes that the 24-year-old experienced some bad luck on balls in play and showcased a wipeout slider and a fastball that comfortably sat in the upper 90s. Rocker will continue to build up his pitch count as he heads to Frisco, though the Rangers are still likely to manage his innings carefully for the rest of the season while he returns from a major arm injury.

JULY 25, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for rehab assignment Rocker (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate on Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

Impact 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.

JULY 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Cleared for rehab assignment Rocker (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with the Rangers' Arizona Complex League affiliate Friday, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

JULY 5, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

Tommy John surgery completed Rocker (elbow) underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery Monday, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Impact 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 until the 2024 season.

MAY 24, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker will undergo Tommy John surgery

The Texas Rangers announced Tuesday that 2022 No. 3 overall pick Kumar Rocker will undergo Tommy John surgery.

MAY 16, 2023 • FOX SPORTS

Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker will undergo Tommy John surgery

Will undergo Tommy John surgery Rocker will have Tommy John surgery later this week, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Impact Rocker was the third selection by the Rangers in the 2022 draft, and in his six starts with High-A Hickory in 2023 he registered a 3.86 ERA with a 42:7 K:BB over 28 innings. The right-hander was also a first-round pick in 2021 by the Mets, but due to medical concerns he ended up not signing with the club. Rocker will miss the rest of the 2023 season while recovering from the surgery, and he'll all but assuredly miss a few moths to begin the 2024 campaign as well.

MAY 16, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back on track at High-A Rocker has a 3.86 ERA and 42:7 K:BB ratio in 28 innings over six starts at High-A Hickory.

Impact 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 of 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.

MAY 15, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

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Texas Rangers pitcher Kumar Rocker will undergo Tommy John surgery