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Rocker allowed one run on three hits and two walks while striking out six over four innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Royals.
Texas manager Skip Schumaker was pleased with Rocker's final Cactus League start. "Rocker was pretty electric," Schumaker told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. "His slider at times was, I don't want to say unhittable, but as good as there is in the game." Indeed, the right-hander's slider played and generated nine whiffs on in the 12 times he threw the pitch. On the negative side, only 40 of his 70 pitches landed in the zone, and he allowed three stolen bases, but the manager classified it as a "really good outing." Rocker finished the spring on the high note, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 11 over eight innings. He and Jacob Latz remain in the hunt for the final spot in the rotation.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Works three innings
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Rocker allowed one run on seven hits while striking out one over three innings in Wednesday's spring exhibition against Team Brazil.
This was the third time on a mound this spring for Rocker, who followed starter Jacob deGrom. The statistics in World Baseball Classic exhibitions don't count against an MLB player's results, but it should be noted that Rocker has allowed 14 hits over 7.2 innings of work thus far. He also allowed five hits on two-strike counts. On a more positive note, the right-hander used an in-development changeup six times and mixed in all five of his offerings. Rocker remains in the mix for the final spot in the rotation with Jacob Latz.
Rocker allowed two runs on five hits while striking out one over 2.2 innings in Thursday's spring start against the Brewers. He also hit a batter.
There was much to like about Rocker's second Cactus League outing. He threw first-pitch strikes to seven of 13 batters and worked out of trouble in the first two innings. Getting ahead early and more use of his changeup have been areas that manager Skip Schumaker is looking for Rocker to focus on. The manager saw the strike-throwing Thursday, but the right-hander did not throw a changeup. "He's still continuing to try and develop," Schumaker told Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News. "He needs that pitch to be successful. That's why I don't really care so much about the results. We all want to see that changeup." Rocker needs to pitch well during spring training to earn a spot in the rotation, but he also needs more in his arsenal than just a slider and fastball.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Makes spring debut
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Rocker allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out two over two innings in Saturday's spring start against the Cubs.
Rocker began his quest for the final spot in the Rangers' rotation. There was traffic on the bases in each inning, and the right-hander allowed a stolen base in both frames, which was an issue that plagued him in 2025 (11 steals, 64.1 innings). Texas manager Skip Schumaker said prior to the start that one of the things he was looking for was first-pitch strikes, according to Matt Postins of SI.com. Rocker, who only threw two of them among the nine batters he faced, said after the game he was trying to be too fine. Another area of the manager's focus was his use of the changeup, and Schumaker was pleased with what he saw Saturday. Rocker and Jacob Latz are the primary competitors for one available rotation spot.
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Competing for rotation spot
Rotowire
Rocker enters spring training as a competitor for a spot in the starting rotation, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.
Rocker broke camp last season in the rotation but experienced an injury and mechanical issues on his way to a 5.74 ERA across 64.1 innings. The 26-year-old right-hander was eventually optioned to Triple-A Round Rock in August and shut down shortly thereafter to refine his mechanics. "Kumar is in a really good spot," Rangers general manager Ross Fenstermaker said. "I think last offseason, maybe, he got away from some things that he needed to do to have success. This offseason, he's gotten back to those things." The organization's acquisition of MacKenzie Gore left one rotation spot available, with Rocker and Jacob Latz viewed as the primary candidates.
The Rangers optioned Rocker to Triple-A Round Rock on Friday.
The Rangers will send Rocker and Jacob Latz down to Triple-A to make room for trade deadline acquisitions Danny Coulombe and Phil Maton. Rocker has given up three earned runs in each of his last two major-league starts and has a 5.74 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB across 64.1 innings with the Rangers this season.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Stumbles in fifth inning
Rotowire
Rocker (4-5) allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three over 4.2 innings to take the loss versus the Mariners on Thursday.
Rocker fell short of the five-inning mark for the third time in his last four outings, with solo home runs by Cole Young and Cal Raleigh accounting for most of the damage Thursday. Over that four-start span, Rocker has allowed 12 runs across 19.1 innings, giving up five homers with a 15:9 K:BB. He's now at a poor 5.74 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 56:23 K:BB across 64.1 innings through 14 starts this season. With the Rangers acquiring Merrill Kelly from the Diamondbacks on Thursday, this may have been Rocker's last start in the majors for a while, as Jack Leiter and Patrick Corbin look like better bets to fill out the back of the Texas rotation.
Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Lasts just four frames Saturday
Rotowire
Rocker allowed three runs on five hits and three walks while striking out five batters over four innings in a no-decision against Atlanta on Saturday.
Rocker had a rocky first inning, walking two batters and allowing a pair of singles to yield a run, but he escaped what could have been a worse frame when Matt Olson was thrown out at home plate. Rocker gave up another run in the second before rebounding with a 1-2-3 third, but he was scored upon again in his fourth and final inning. Overall, the right-hander needed 95 pitches to retire 12 batters, and this was his shortest outing since he went 3.1 frames against Tampa Bay on June 4. Rocker had been pitching pretty well coming into Saturday, surrendering two or fewer runs while going at least five innings in five of his previous six starts, so his rotation spot is secure despite Saturday's clunker. He's scheduled to make his next start on the road in Seattle.
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Rangers' Kumar Rocker: Tosses 6.1 strong frames
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Rocker (4-4) earned the win over Detroit on Saturday, allowing one hit and issuing three walks while striking out five batters over 6.1 scoreless innings.
Rocker was pounded by the Angels for six runs over 4.1 frames in his previous start, but he bounced back in fine fashion Saturday. The righty was pitching a no-hitter until Wenceel Perez tagged him for a two-out single in the sixth inning, and that was the only base knock Rocker ending up allowing. The second-year hurler finished with 13 whiffs and notched his third quality start of the campaign. Rocker still has a poor 5.66 ERA on the season, but this was a promising outing as he looks to turn things around in the second half.
Rocker allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out two batters over 4.1 innings in a no-decision against the Angels on Wednesday.
Rocker was staked to a 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning, but he couldn't hold the advantage. The right-hander was tagged for six runs over the third through fifth frames, serving up three homers -- including two to Mike Trout -- along the way. The six earned runs tied a season-worst mark for Rocker, with the other such instance coming in his season debut March 31 versus Cincinnati. Wednesday's poor outing snapped what had been a pretty strong run for Rocker, as he entered the day having posted a 2.49 ERA and 1.11 WHIP over his previous four starts.
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