Texas Rangers prospects Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter on the move

The former first-round picks have been dominant recently in the minors.

The front office members for Double A Frisco found themselves in an awkward situation Friday morning.

They had to tell media that had scheduled time with prospect Kumar Rocker that he wouldn’t be at Riders Field. Hmm, why’s that? Well, he has a new team.

The Texas Rangers promoted the right-hander with a 0.46 Double A ERA was promoted to Triple A Round Rock. He was so dominant in his outings that he didn’t have to use all of his pitch, and the thinking is that Rocker will face new challenges against a more advanced class of hitters.

His next start could be Wednesday at Dell Diamond, and he could be taking the spot of right-hander and former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter. The Rangers needed a starter for Wednesday, and Leiter is a leading candidate based on his Triple A work this season and his work the past two weeks.

Leiter has 20 strikeouts in his past two outings since being given a two-week break by the organization. He has shown the kind of command in the strike zone that was lacking during his first three MLB starts.

If the Rangers turn to him Wednesday, in a spot they were holding for Max Scherzer, Leiter would face a White Sox offense that has struggled all season and is now littered with players who opened 2024 in the minor leagues.

Scherzer was scratched from his Friday rehab start at Frisco, but the Rangers believe that he isn’t far away from making one.

Meanwhile, the Rangers’ No. 1 picks in 2021 (Leiter, second overall) and in 2022 (Rocker, third overall) appear to both be on the move.

Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com