Thursday’s Outing for Kumar Rocker Could Determine His Texas Rangers Future

Issues have not fairly gone how the Texas Rangers and Kumar Rocker envisioned it to start out the yr.

Inserted into the beginning rotation following two spring coaching accidents to Jon Grey and Cody Bradford, the highest prospect carried his poor exhibiting in the course of the spring with him into the common season.

Getting into Thursday’s scheduled begin, the right-hander is sporting an 0-2 report and a 7.94 ERA throughout his three begins, giving up 18 hits in 11 1/3 innings pitched whereas placing out simply six batters and strolling 4.

That is vastly totally different from what he did to shut the 2024 marketing campaign.

In an identical pattern dimension — three begins and 11 2/3 innings pitched — Rocker had a 3.86 ERA and allowed 12 hits whereas placing out 14 batters and strolling six.

Command and the propensity of being hit is the frequent theme for the 25-year-old by way of his first outings in The Present. However the way in which his strikeout skill has cratered maybe is essentially the most regarding growth of all.

Rocker has to show to the Rangers that he deserves a spot within the rotation, and if he would not ship a powerful exhibiting in opposition to the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News (subscription required) believes that might be the tip of his time within the rotation to start out the season.

“… Kumar Rocker approaches what could be a critical start in determining if the team goes forward with him in the rotation or needs to consider a refinement program in the minors …,” he wrote.

Texas believes he’s having a tough time trusting his array of pitches, attacking lineups in a predictable method that has allowed this stage of hitters to feast on what he is been throwing.

Per FanGraphs, solely one among his 5 pitches — his slider — has a Stuff+ rating above the league common of 100, which is an issue as a result of he is not throwing that pitch fairly often.

In truth, throughout his final outing, Rocker was shaking off the decision from catcher Jonah Heim on a number of events, which isn’t an excellent signal that he is trusting what he can do on the mound.

Due to that, there’s a good likelihood the Rangers transfer him to the minors sooner or later, whether or not that is instantly after this begin if he struggles or later in the course of the weekend when Jack Leiter is eligible to return from the injured listing.

What occurs to Rocker past that might be fascinating to watch.

Grey and Bradford are going to return again sooner or later, and when that occurs, there is a good likelihood they forestall the highest prospect from pitching within the Majors if everybody stays wholesome and he nonetheless is trying to find a strategy to be efficient.