Top Texas Rangers Prospect Kumar Rocker Out for Year

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker to undergo Tommy John surgery.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Kumar Rocker, one of the prized pitching prospects in the Texas Rangers system, is going to miss at least a year after tearing a ligament in his right elbow.

The injury was diagnosed after Rocker’s last start. Tommy John surgery will likely be performed by team doctor Keith Meister later this week.

Rangers general manager Chris Young was obviously disappointed with the news. Rocker was off to a strong start in his first full season in the Texas system, posting a 3.86 ERA in six starts for High-A Hickory.

Young added that Rocker was on the verge of a promotion.

“It’s part of baseball,” Young said. “It’s part of the risk with pitchers.”

The risk, however, was not related to the medical concerns that New York Mets had after drafting Rocker out of Vanderbilt with the 10th overall pick in 2021. The Mets didn’t sign Rocker, who instead played independent league baseball before the Rangers took him third overall last year.

Young insisted that Rocker’s medicals were “clean” before the 2022 draft and the Rangers had no reservations making the pick.

“He’s everything we want in our players and he’s ready for the next challenge,” Young said, referring to the upcoming rehab.

The Rangers project Rocker returning sometime in the second half of the 2024 season. Rocker was currently the No. 6 prospect in the Rangers system.

“The talent is real and so is the work ethic and the intangibles he has between the ears,” Young said. “He’s going to be just fine.”

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