Home Baseball Kumar Rocker may not have been at his best during his home debut with the Texas Rangers, but he relied on a ‘mature approach’

Kumar Rocker may not have been at his best during his home debut with the Texas Rangers, but he relied on a ‘mature approach’

Baseball — 09/20/2024

There will be days like this. Texas Rangers’ top pitching prospect Kumar Rocker didn’t have his best fastball or his best command on Thursday. However, what he consistently displays is exceptional composure.

And that can carry you through.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first...

It was just three innings in a 4-0 defeat against Toronto, marking the first decision of his career. There were also five free baserunners due to walks and a hit batter. Ultimately, the only factor preventing Rocker from pitching longer and more competitively was the Rangers’ predetermined pitch count, implemented to ensure caution with a pitcher who underwent elbow surgery last year.

Despite allowing eight baserunners through walks, a hit batter, two singles, and a critical error by third baseman Ezequiel Duran, Rocker was charged with only one earned run. If Duran had fielded the two-out grounder in the third, he might have allowed just one run overall.

“He wasn’t as sharp,” manager Bruce Bochy remarked afterward. “His stuff was a bit lacking, and his command wasn’t as precise. You’re going to have days like that. But he fought through it. He’s a very mature player, and he limited the damage.”

He faced two runners in the first inning and struck out Davis Schneider. In the second inning, with the bases loaded and one out, if Wyatt Langford had made a stronger throw home on what turned into a sacrifice fly, he might have escaped without giving up a run.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker threw to the Toronto Blue Jays in the first...

He was working through another tough situation in the third when Duran misplayed a grounder. However, that didn’t bother him. Even after exceeding 70 pitches—essentially the limit set by the Rangers—he struck out Joey Loperfido to finish the third.

In the dugout, Bochy didn’t even uncross his legs or stand up, signaling that he wasn’t ready to make a pitching change.

“It was just as noticeable as in my last start,” Rocker said regarding his command struggles. “I was trying to find my rhythm and control my emotions as I approached the plate. It’s going to come. I did what I could to limit the damage and minimize walks, but things didn’t go my way. I focused on keeping the team in the game.”