KKKKKKKumar.


Kumar Rocker walks off the field in the first after pitching his way out of a jam.
Rocker’s mom cries tears of joy at seeing her son’s success.

The Kumar Rocker era has begun. It came much earlier than anticipated, but Rocker was so dominating in the minor leagues that he forced his way into a big league start.

He certainly didn’t look intimidating. 

Allowed to go just four innings, Rocker made the most of it. He actually allowed the first to Mariners to single, putting runners on first and third before he even had a chance to take a breath. Then, the runner from first stole second. So, it was second and third and no outs to start his major league career.

Then the twenty-four-year-old righty from Vanderbilt dug deep. He struck out Cal Raleigh. He struck out Randy Arozarena. He got Luke Raley to fly out. And just like that, Rocker aced his first major league test.

He picked up two more strikeouts in a one-two-three second. Walked two in the third but pitched around it, striking out one. And he gave up a home run to Justin Turner in the fourth, along with two more strikeouts.

In the end, he tossed 74 pitches, striking out seven in four innings, allowing one earned run, and three hits. 

Rangers general manager Chris Young, a former pitcher himself, said of Rocker after the game, “I think this is a very mature, poised player, who knows exactly what he needs to do to be successful.”

Even higher praise came from his manager, Bruce Bochy, who gushed, “That was one of the more impressive debuts I’ve seen.” The future Hall of Fame manager has seen his share.

Rocker is so good, he was drafted three times. First, out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in 2018. But he chose to go to Vanderbilt instead. Then, he was drafted in the first round by the Mets in 2021, but New York chose not to sign him because they didn’t like the medical report. His agent, Scott Boras, immediately claimed Rocker needed “no medical attention.” Shortly thereafter, he underwent shoulder surgery. In 2022, The Rangers selected Rocker in the first round, he was the third pick overall. In May of 2023, he had Tommy John surgery.

A lot is riding on Rocker’s success. He was a first-round draft pick in Chris Young’s first draft with the Rangers. He also wasn’t expected to make his debut until next year. You have to wonder if his debut happening last night was someone tied into the fact that Chris Young doesn’t yet have a contract for next season. Was this a not-so-subtle reminder to ownership of exactly what Young’s value to their franchise, their business, their investment, is? As if winning a World Series championship wasn’t enough?

It’s a lot to put on the surgically repaired shoulders of a guy. But Rocker could be the future of the Rangers in more ways than one. He could be the rare pitching drafting and development success story. And he could be the reason Chris Young is asked back.

Welcome to the major leagues, Kumar Rocker. In a season of bitter disappointment, you were a breath of fresh air.

*****  
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