Rangers righty Kumar Rocker made his Spring Coaching debut right now in opposition to the Royals. The outcomes weren’t good — he allowed 4 runs in his inning of labor — however that’s inconsequential this early in camp.
As Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning Information writes, supervisor Bruce Bochy and GM Chris Younger have left open the likelihood for Rocker to interrupt camp. That may require an damage elsewhere within the rotation, nonetheless, because it appears Rocker enters Spring Coaching sixth on the depth chart. Texas has a veteran prime 4: Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Tyler Mahle and Jon Grey. The fifth spot may come all the way down to a battle between Rocker and left-hander Cody Bradford — with the latter probably having the leg up.
“We’re going to see the place we come out of camp, the place we’re from a medical standpoint, who’s wholesome, how guys have thrown the ball, however (Rocker is) actually one that’s in our plans,” Younger mentioned. “We simply can’t inform you precisely how at this level.” The third total choose within the 2022 draft, Rocker earned a short debut final September. He began three video games, permitting six runs (5 earned) via 11 2/3 innings. The 6’5″ righty recorded 14 strikeouts with a superb 13.3% swinging strike price. It’s an exceedingly small pattern, however he seems able to lacking bats on the highest stage.
Rocker averaged 96 MPH on his heater, whereas opponents had few solutions for his slider. The latter pitch could already be one of many recreation’s prime breaking balls. Baseball America graded the slider as a plus-plus providing (70 on the 20-80 scale) whereas rating Rocker amongst their prime 20 prospects. The 25-year-old will definitely be an element in some unspecified time in the future this season, although it stays to be seen how the Rangers need to deal with his workload. Rocker underwent Tommy John surgical procedure in 2023 and has all of 19 skilled appearances below his belt. He has tallied fewer than 30 innings between Double-A and Triple-A. Rocker carved up minor league hitters upon getting back from the surgical procedure, working to a 1.96 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 36 2/3 frames over 10 appearances.
The 27-year-old Bradford has virtually the polar reverse strategy. He’s a soft-tossing lefty who depends on a plus changeup and elite command. Regardless of missing large stuff, Bradford turned in a 3.54 ERA with a stable 22.7% strikeout price over 76 1/3 innings final season. A again damage value him three months, however he was a quietly productive starter when wholesome. Each Rocker and Bradford have minor league choices remaining. Whereas Dane Dunning stays readily available as properly, he’s likelier to pitch in lengthy aid after a tough ’24 season.
There’s little question about Eovaldi’s function. He’ll be again within the prime half of the rotation after re-signing on a three-year, $75MM free agent deal. The 13-year MLB veteran has been extremely constant, delivering a sub-4.00 ERA in 5 straight seasons. That hasn’t stopped him from utilizing exhibition play to tinker together with his arsenal.
Eovaldi instructed reporters final week that he has been engaged on a two-seam fastball all through the offseason (hyperlink through Kennedi Landry of MLB.com). The righty confirmed that he used it a number of occasions in his Spring Coaching debut on Friday in opposition to Kansas Metropolis. Brooks Baseball tracked 5 of his pitches as sinkers (which is the two-seam fastball) over two innings. Eovaldi has had a five-pitch combine for many of his profession: four-seam, splitter, cutter, curveball and a slider that he solely throws in opposition to right-handed hitters. He instructed Landry and different reporters that he’ll proceed to work on the two-seam, which he needs to run up and in in opposition to righty batters to maintain them off the splitter decrease within the zone.
One participant who has but to get his exhibition season underway: second-year left fielder Wyatt Langford. Jeff Wilson of DLLS Sports activities was amongst these to report final week that Langford was being held again from baseball actions for a number of days after being identified with a gentle indirect pressure. Bochy maintained that the Rangers think about this a minor setback and anticipate that Langford might be prepared for Opening Day. He’ll look to construct off a stable rookie season through which he hit .253/.325/.415 with 16 homers throughout 557 plate appearances.
