Rocker embracing competition in pursuit of big league spot

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- The thing Kumar Rocker missed the most when he was out for over a year following Tommy John surgery was the competition.

His wish was Bruce Bochy’s command. Rocker is right in the thick of a rotation battle right now as he enters his first big league camp as a Major Leaguer.

“[Competition] is what you sign up for,” Rocker said after his 2025 Cactus League debut on Tuesday in which the Rangers fell to the Royals, 15-6. “You gotta go there and perform. Everyone has their stages on how they get [to the big leagues]. And I'm in the early stages, and I feel good. I'm excited to perform and have a chance.”

Rocker’s first Cactus League start of the season wasn’t exactly smooth. He opened by hitting Jonathan India with a pitch before a string of hard-hit balls from Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino and Michael Massey put the Rangers at a two-run deficit.

He allowed one more hit -- a double from Nick Pratto -- but a strikeout, popout and groundout ended the inning with Rocker allowing four runs.

“It's exciting to be back out there,” he said. “I think I made some good adjustments in the bullpen going into the game, and it was fun. But they’re good hitters. I gotta keep the ball down a little bit. The command has got to get a little bit better. But being in the zone and filling it up was nice.”

The third overall pick in the 2022 Draft, Rocker has had an electric professional career in short bursts due to injury. He underwent Tommy John in May 2023, and only made 16 total Minor League starts across three seasons. But he pitched so well upon his return that he forced the issue and received a September call-up to make his debut last season.

In 2024, Rocker had a 1.74 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 41 1/3 innings spread among Double-A (five starts), Triple-A (two) and the Majors (three) following his return to the mound.

He looks to force the coaching staff’s hand once again and become a mainstay in the big league rotation.

“What we look for from everybody is to throw strikes and pound the strike zone,” Bochy said. “He’s got great stuff. That's really all there it is. Just be who you are. As long as you don't beat yourself, you’re going to pitch well. That's what you look for from young guys.”

Rocker has a slim, but not impossible chance to break camp with the big league club. So what does he need to do to make that happen?

“That's a tough question,” Bochy said. “It never changes, just pitch well. That’s the same with all these guys that are trying to make the club. He's got great stuff. This guy's gonna have a real nice career. It’s just a matter of where we're at toward the end of Spring Training, that's when I can answer this question a lot better. We want him to go out there and make it a very hard decision. That's what you want from these young guys.”

Rocker knows he’s got to perform to be on the Opening Day roster. But he also knows that if he doesn’t break with the big league club, he’s got to keep his mind and body right to be able to step in.

“It's a little early,” Bochy said. “We don't go solely on Spring Training [stats], but you do what's best for the club, and for the player, too. There's some variables involved here. As we open the season, we'll see where we're at as far as the health of his staff and what we think are our best options. If we think it's Kumar, then he’ll be there.”