Express RHP Kumar Rocker Named Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week

ROUND ROCK, Texas – Round Rock Express RHP Kumar Rocker was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week for August 26-September 1, as announced by Minor League Baseball on Monday afternoon. Rocker joins RHP Johnny Cueto and RHP Jack Leiter as the only Express pitchers to win the award this year.

Rocker made his Triple-A debut on August 28 against the Oklahoma City Baseball Club (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate) and faced Dodgers rehabber RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Rocker went 5.0 innings of scoreless baseball and struck out 10 while allowing only one hit. He worked through the Oklahoma City lineup on 67 pitches.

The former third overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft by the Texas Rangers was drafted out of Vanderbilt University. He was the Most Outstanding Player of the 2019 College World Series for Vanderbilt. In 2021, he was a unanimous First Team All-American in his junior season where he became just the second player since 1988 to lead the nation in both strikeouts and wins in the same season.

Rocker began his professional career with High-A Hickory last year, but after six starts, underwent Tommy John surgery. He returned this season on July 5 and made three starts in the Arizona Complex League before joining Double-A Frisco. With the RoughRiders, he made five starts and posted a 0.46 ERA (1 ER/19.2 IP) before his promotion to Triple-A.

Rocker is scheduled to throw again Friday, September 6 when the Express take on the Las Vegas Aviators. Round Rock begins a six-game series tonight from Las Vegas Ballpark with first pitch slated for 9:05 p.m. CT. Express RHP Adrian Sampson (8-9, 5.71) is scheduled for the start against Aviators RHP Gunnar Hoglund (0-3, 5.88).

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