Maybe Kumar Rocker turned the proverbial corner, right in front of our eyes.

In the first inning of yesterday’s 5-3 win over the Angels, in what turned out to be a three-game sweep of Los Angeles, Rocker got into his usual first-inning jam. He allowed a leadoff double, then two outs later, a single to give up a run.

Then he settled down. He mowed through the Angels with pitch-count efficiency, striking out eight, walking none. 

He didn’t crater in the fifth. He did give up two runs but nothing more. In the past, Rocker would have allowed four runs to score in that situation.

But Rangers manager Bruce Bochy stuck with him. And that allowed Kumar Rocker to pick up his first major league win. It was, in fact, Rocker’s longest outing since leaving college.

Bochy’s confidence in Rocker spilled over after the game as well, when he said of his rookie right-handed pitcher, “He’s shown he can do it at this level. He can do it again, too.”

The mental aspect of this game is so important. Confidence is everything. Rocker comes away with the confidence knowing he can do it, and the confidence of a manager who knows he can as well.

That’s huge. 

Besides, who would have thought Rocker would get a W in 2025 before Jacob deGrom?

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