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• Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Optioned to Triple-A

  09/27/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday. Rocker made his final start of the season Thursday against Oakland, so the Rangers will send him and Jack Leiter back out to the minors in order to bring in additional bullpen depth in the form of Marc Church and Daniel Robert. Rocker will finish the 2024 campaign with a 3.86 ERA and 1.54 WHIP alongside a 14:6 K:BB through 11.2 innings after making the first three starts of his MLB career in September.

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• Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Takes loss against A's

  09/26/2024 • By RotoWire

  Rocker (0-2) took the loss Thursday against the Athletics, allowing three runs on seven hits and no walks across 4.2 innings. He struck out two. Rocker pitched into the fifth inning for the first time in three starts this season but was attributed his second straight loss. Encouragingly, the rookie didn't walk a batter Thursday after walking six in his first two outings (seven innings). At 24 years old, Rocker is one of baseball's best pitching prospects. He allowed three runs across 29.2 combined innings at Double-A and Triple-A.

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• Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Control issues in second start

  09/20/2024 • By RotoWire

  Rocker (0-1) took the loss Thursday, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits and four walks across three innings against the Blue Jays. He struck out five. Rocker's second start was a bit rockier than his first, needing 71 pitches to complete three frames. In addition to the four walks, he also allowed a baserunner by way of a hit-by-pitch. Despite the control trouble, his one earned run allowed was scored without allowing a hit and the second run allowed came off of a throwing error. The highly touted rookie has allowed one earned run in each of his first two outings spanning seven innings and is set to make one more start to close out the season, coming in a road matchup against either the Athletics or the Angels.

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• Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Next start coming Thursday

  09/16/2024 • By RotoWire

  Rocker is scheduled to make his next start Thursday against the Blue Jays in Arlington. Rocker was called up from Triple-A Round Rock last week and ended up taking the rotation spot of fellow rookie and former Vanderbilt teammate Jack Leiter, who was moved to the bullpen. After submitting stellar numbers in the minors upon completing his recovery from May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Rocker continued to shine in his MLB debut this past Thursday, striking out seven and inducing 17 swinging strikes while allowing one earned run on three hits and two walks over four innings. Rocker was lifted after 74 pitches, and though the Rangers will likely be conservative with his workload over what projects to be two more starts this season, he should be a strong source of strikeouts down the stretch.

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• Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Set for MLB debut Thursday

  09/09/2024 • By RotoWire

  Rocker will be called up from Triple-A Round Rock to make his major-league debut Thursday in Seattle, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports. The Rangers hadn't initially planned to promote Rocker to the big leagues in his first season back from Tommy John surgery, but the big right-hander has been so dominant that he's forced their hand. Rocker permitted six runs (three earned) over three innings in his third rehab start with the Rangers' rookie-level Arizona Complex League affiliate, but in seven outings since then between Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock, he's collected a 0.91 ERA and 47:4 K:BB over 29.2 innings. He has not thrown more than 72 pitches or gone more than five frames in a start, and Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News has reported that the Rangers would like to keep Rocker at around 50 total innings for this season. If the club sticks to that number, it would leave Rocker with approximately 13.1 frames left in 2024.

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