Former RoughRider Kumar Rocker makes MLB debut
FRISCO, Texas (September 13, 2024) – Former Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Kumar Rocker made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, September 12th in their game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. The 24-year-old Rocker started the game for the Rangers, surrendering a pair of singles before striking
FRISCO, Texas (September 13, 2024) – Former Frisco RoughRiders pitcher Kumar Rocker made his MLB debut with the Texas Rangers on Thursday, September 12th in their game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
The 24-year-old Rocker started the game for the Rangers, surrendering a pair of singles before striking out Cal Raleigh for his first big league out. Kumar allowed just one run in his debut, coming on a solo homer by Justin Turner in the fourth inning. The organization's top pitching prospect finished after 4.0 innings in which he gave up one run on three hits and two walks while fanning seven in the Rangers 5-4 win.
The Watkinsville, Georgia native made three appearances this season for the ACL Rangers, going 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA with eight strikeouts over 7.0 innings before being promoted to Frisco.
In five starts with the RoughRiders, he allowed just one run over 19.2 innings while collecting an impressive 29 strikeouts.
The former Vanderbilt star was a first-round pick by the New York Mets in 2021 (10th overall), but did not sign. In 2022 he was selected with the third overall pick and elected to sign with the Rangers.
With the Commodores, Rocker was one of the best pitchers in the nation alongside former RoughRider and Ranger Jack Leiter. Rocker was a unanimous First-Team All-American, leading the nation with 14 wins and 179 strikeouts. Over his three years, he had a 2.89 ERA with 321 strikeouts in 236.2 innings.
Rocker is the 14th former RoughRiders player to make his MLB debut in 2024 and the 211th player in franchise history, joining Wyatt Langford, Justin Slaten, Justin Foscue, Davis Wendzel, Cole Winn, Ricky Vanasco, Jack Leiter, Gerson Garabito, Tyler Phillips, Daniel Robert, Brady Fiegl, Sandro Fabian and Thomas Saggese.
The RoughRiders continue a six-game road series against the Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona Diamondbacks affiliate) at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, September 13th. The Riders are expected to turn to LHP Kohl Drake (2-1, 3.63) against RHP Joe Elbis (0-3, 3.70) for the Sod Poodles.
For tickets and more information about the Frisco RoughRiders, visit RidersBaseball.com or call 972.731.9200.
About the RoughRiders
The Frisco RoughRiders are the Double-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers and the 2022 Texas League champions. In 2023, the team celebrated its 20th anniversary and has consistently finished in the top five among all Double-A franchises in attendance yearly. In August 2014, the RoughRiders were purchased by an ownership group led by Chuck Greenberg. Since then, the new ownership group, together with the City of Frisco, has spearheaded numerous major franchise enhancements, investing over $8 million in a wide array of facility upgrades and improvements, including a state-of-the-art HD video board, sound system, Bull Moose Saloon, Bullpen Bar, Riders Outpost Team Store and the world's largest water feature in a sports facility, the massive Lazy River. These enhancements earned the Riders and the City of Frisco Ballpark Digest's prestigious "Best Ballpark Renovation" award for two consecutive years (2015 and 2016). More than 210 former RoughRiders players have gone on to play Major League Baseball including current Rangers Josh Jung, Evan Carter and Leody Taveras. For more information on the Frisco RoughRiders, please visit RidersBaseball.com or contact [email protected].