Kumar Rocker made his much-anticipated Major League debut on Thursday night, experiencing a blend of highs and lows in his first game as a professional.

Pitching for the Texas Rangers in their series opener against the Seattle Mariners, Rocker’s debut marked the culmination of his journey from a standout college player to a top pitching prospect for the Rangers.

With his parents in the stands cheering him on, Rocker had a challenging start. He allowed a single to Victor Robles on his very first pitch and another to Julio Rodriguez.

Despite these early setbacks, Rocker managed to navigate through the first inning without conceding any runs, thanks to strikeouts of Cal Raleigh and Randy Arozarena and a flyout by Luke Raley.

Throughout his debut, Rocker struck out seven batters, often leaving Seattle hitters uncertain and off-balance. However, he did give up his first career home run to Justin Turner in the fourth inning, which was also the first run he allowed in the game.

Rocker was pulled from the game after throwing 74 pitches. During his outing, he allowed three hits, walked two batters, and recorded seven strikeouts.

Following a standout college career at Vanderbilt, Rocker was drafted 10th overall by the Mets in 2021 but did not sign due to health issues. The Rangers selected him third overall in the 2022 draft. He made his way to the Major Leagues after recovering from Tommy John surgery in May 2023.

Texas general manager Chris Young expressed enthusiasm about Rocker’s debut, noting the excitement surrounding not only his performance but also the upcoming returns of Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer. Young emphasized Rocker’s rapid advancement through the minor leagues and his promising opportunity to pitch at the Major League level.