The Texas Rangers are expected to feature two major pitching debuts this week, starting with star prospect Kumar Rocker, who will make 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 He shot down 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 one walk, seemingly forcing the Rangers to give him a look in the majors before next season.
Rocker began the year pitching 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 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 on how much Rocker should pitch this year. Before the surgery in 2023, he threw 28 innings. In his first professional season in 2022, Rocker pitched 34 innings.
As a freshman in college, Rocker pitched 99 2/3 innings for Vanderbilt, including pitching A no-hitter with 19 strikeouts in a super regional win over Duke. He pitched 122 innings as a junior in his final year at Vanderbilt.
Rocker is a two-time first-round draft pick, initially being selected 10th overall by the New York Mets in 2021. However, The Mets did not sign Rocker After a physical exam, concerns arose about an elbow issue. Rocker did not return to Vanderbilt, instead pitching in the independent Frontier League before being drafted again and chosen by the Rangers.
The Rangers also expect Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer to pitch for them during their four-game series against the Seattle Mariners. However, with seven potential 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 need after their rehab stints. DeGrom hasn’t pitched since April 2023 after undergoing surgery on the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.