Rangers' Rocker to make MLB debut Thursday vs. Mariners

The Texas Rangers are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Kumar Rocker, the team announced Monday.

He will start and make his major-league debut Thursday against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park.

Rocker, 24, is the No. 97 prospect in baseball while ranking second in Texas' system, according to MLB Pipeline.

The former first-round pick owns a 1.96 ERA and 0.79 WHIP over 36 2/3 innings across three minor-league levels in 2024 after returning from Tommy John surgery. He was most recently stationed at Triple-A Round Rock where he allowed two runs over two starts, striking out 18 and walking one.

Drafted 10th overall by the New York Mets in 2021, Rocker made headlines when the team ultimately didn't sign him, and he re-entered the draft the following year. After playing in the independent Frontier League, Rocker was drafted third overall by the Rangers in 2022.