Texas Rangers to promote Kumar Rocker

The 2022 first-round draft pick has dominated in the minors after returning from Tommy John surgery this summer.

The minor leagues have been no match for right-hander Kumar Rocker, so much so that his next outing will be in the major leagues.

The Texas Rangers announced Monday afternoon that they are promoting their top prospect from Triple A Round Rock, and he is scheduled to make his MLB debut Thursday at Seattle.

General manager Chris Young said that Rocker checked all the boxes, both on the mound and physically since returning from Tommy John surgery, since he was cleared to return July 5.

As the Rangers look ahead to next season, Rocker is in their plans.

“He’s passed every test and feels really good,” Young said. “The results from a baseball standpoint speak for themselves, and as we evaluate what’s next for him and the potential for him to help us in 2025, getting a little bit of big-league experience this year will help set him up for success next season.”

In seven starts between Dobule A Frisco and Triple A Round Rock, Rocker has 0.91 ERA (3 ER/29 2/3 innings) with 47 strikeouts and four walks. He has allowed only 13 hits.

Rocker will join a rotation that already includes Nathan Eovaldi, Andrew Heaney, Cody Bradford and Jack Leiter. The Rangers are planning for Jacob deGrom to pitch for them Friday, and they are waiting to see if Max Scherzer (nerve) will be ready to go, too.

Leiter could end up piggybacking deGrom or Scherzer, as they will be on innings limits. But a 2025 rotation of deGrom, Eovaldi, Bradford, Rocker and Leiter is feasible.

“This might be the best rotation we’ve had all year,” Young said. “It’s exciting for our fans in that regard.”

Rocker is expected to make three starts the rest of the season.

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com