May 26: Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young today denied that Rocker is being considered for a closer role, per Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. Young said it’s possible Rocker ends up pitching in relief due to various circumstances, though it’s not something the club is targeting. “We see him as an MLB starter in the short- and long-term,” Young said. “Is there a way we need him in some capacity in the bullpen? Perhaps, but that is neither the focus nor the plan. We’ve not talked about it.”
May 25: Rangers brass are contemplating trying hard-throwing youngster Kumar Rocker in the closer role when he returns from the injured list, according to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Rocker is currently rehabbing from a right shoulder impingement that’s kept him sidelined over the past month, but is already on a rehab assignment and expected to be ready to return in the near future.
Moving a consensus top-50 prospect in the sport to the bullpen despite him having started all eight games of his major league career to this point would be something of a bold move, but it’s also an understandable one to consider for a team badly in need of a spark. The Rangers currently sport a 26-28 record that leaves them on the outside looking in of the AL playoff picture. Much of those struggles have been down to an anemic offense that has struggled to generate runs despite having big name players like Wyatt Langford, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Joc Pederson up and down the lineup.
Perhaps the team that entered play today tied for the third-fewest runs scored in the majors could put themselves in a better position to succeed if their pitching was top-notch; after all, the Rangers are tied with the Royals in terms of runs scored, and Kansas City is currently clinging to the final AL Wild Card spot with a 29-25 record thanks in large part to a team ERA of 3.07, second in baseball behind only the Mets. The Rangers are no slouches when it comes to pitching, themselves, as their team ERA of 3.38 is good for sixth in the majors. Notably, however, much of that prowess has come from a starting rotation that has featured standout performances from veterans Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, and Tyler Mahle. Rocker has not been part of that success, as even when healthy he’s pitched to a lackluster 8.10 ERA in five starts this year despite solid peripherals.
The bullpen, on the other hand, is a place where Rocker may be able to make an impact. The Rangers have dealt with a middling bullpen for years, and despite overhauling the unit this offseason that remains the case as they’ve pitched to a 4.20 ERA that’s good for just 19th in the majors. Adding an electric arm like that of Rocker to the mix could help the Rangers hold onto leads late in games, especially with veteran relief ace Chris Martin currently on the shelf due to shoulder fatigue without a clear timeline for his return to action. If Rocker can dominate out of the bullpen by pitching at max-effort and not worrying about trying to go multiple innings, then it’s possible that he could get acclimated to the majors more effectively as a reliever and help the Rangers where they’re most in need of a jolt on the pitching side of things.
While starting a top pitching prospect’s career in the bullpen is unusual, it’s hardly unprecedented. Chris Sale stands as perhaps the most notable example of an ace hurler who began in the major league bullpen before converting back to the rotation later on, but Garrett Crochet, Jeff Samardzija, and Texas’s own C.J. Wilson are among a handful of other notable names. Hurlers have even begun converting from relief to rotation roles later in their career in recent years, with Seth Lugo and Clay Holmes standing out as notable examples from the past few seasons. Of course, this strategy would still come with some risk. There’s no guarantee that Rocker would immediately take to a role change, and even if he did the Rangers would effectively be hollowing out some of their rotation depth by not letting Rocker stay stretched out and using him in shorter bursts.
so their way of learning from Neftali Feliz is to do a reverse Neftali Feliz
I mean Feliz wasnt bad as a starter he just got injured and he started games in the minors
But disrupting rocker’s development is a classic rangers move just like all of those horrible moves in the 2000s *cough* arod *cough* fielder
Another Bob Nightengale non-scoop!
“Rangers brass are contemplating trying hard-throwing youngster Kumar Rocker in the closer role when he returns from the injured list, according to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today.”
Closers named Rocker cause problems.
Those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it.
John must be excited that his son is following in his footsteps.
Kumar’s father is Tracy Rocker, former NFL player from Auburn who also coached in college football and in the NFL. Please don’t get those two mixed up, thank you.
Kumar must be excited that his son is following in his footsteps and will join Harold on a quest to White Castle
Looking at his games pitched a little more than 50% of time he gave up first inning runs, so is he ready for pressure cooker closer role knowing that?
Starters’ stuff tends to get better when moved into relief. His repertoire is textbook closer.
It should be fine because he’ll be pitching the ninth inning, not the first inning;)
apparently, Rangers agreed with me and is not going to close for now.
This sounds like an owner decision. Bochy would never give up on a starter that quick.
Wow first Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty dies, now this?
Might make some sense. Just have him throw as hard as he can for an inning. It’s not like the Rangers have a raft of choices for the closer spot, anyway.
Shouldn’t have traded Clase for a spent Kluber.
Breaking news, thank you
You’re welcome, Dick.
Good idea to try him as a closer. The starter project with him has gone on for a few years. If he is to stay in the majors try him as a closer . Only goes through lineup once and can stick to a 2 or 3 pitch combination and not worry about 100 pitch endurance
Hopefully a closer never goes through the lineup once. That’s a minimum of 3 runs in the 9th inning.
Dave Rigetti was a great starter before being moved to be a closer for the Yankees
So were Dennis Eckersly & John Smoltz. Moving a veteran with injury history to closer is one thing, but giving up on a first round pick this early in his career and turning him into a reliever is something else.
Adam Wainwright is another prominent example of temporary use as a closer before a great career as a starter.
Wainwright, Chris Sale, Garrett Crochet, Jeff Samardzjia, Johan Santana, even Pedro Martinez and Curt Schilling were used as a reliever for the first year or two of their careers in the big leagues before moving back to the rotation long term.
Don’t forget John Smoltz. Except in his case he was a great starter, became a closer (and a damn good one) for a few years while healing from TJ before becoming a starter again.
Always gave me closer vibes, maybe it’s the name. It makes some sense because of the arsenal, injuries and results thus far I guess. MLB doesn’t have those dominating closer on 2/3 of the teams anymore, with the catchy names and entry music. We’ve seen many a failed starter prospects become very good relievers, but may be premature if they do it.
his name is kumar rocker
of course he’s a closer
He belongs in and wants to play in Detroit.
The Rangers should come up.with a trade deal.
That would be a colossal mistake.
Define colossal. Mets didn’t sign Rocker, then they chose Kevin Parada the next year. Go check Parada’s minor league numbers and get back to me about colossal.
Major League Baseball Fan:
And I’m going to say whether it’s Rocker or Parada, I don’t think either one is going to have a major positive impact at the major league level.
Chris Young is an awful GM. After the Rangers won the World Series, the bullpen got worse and they made zero improvements other than one year signings of Yates and Robertson within the past 2 years. They relied of Sborz and their former closer (forgot his name), and shelved Chapman for no reason. Those first 2 guys I mentioned, I thought they were some of the worst relievers in the game. For those that say “Chris Young is a good GM, they won a World Series”, he got there when all the pieces were already there. The Rangers were bad for years. The only difference between him and Ellias is that Young went for it all at that 2023 trade deadline, while Ellias never made one big move at the multiple deadlines that the Orioles were in contention for. The bullpen is the most important part of the game
How many GMs have won a World Series? Let alone their first full year?
The 3 sentences following your first one tells me you have little clue of what you’re talking about
Mr. Deeds should go to adjective school. An ERA of 8.10 is “lackluster? How about “dreadful”?
Not over a 20 inning sample size. It’s not good, but it’s not dreadful. Lackluster would be a good term.
So if Kumar isn’t being considered is Harold?
Need to get some White Castle first.
I would think they would look at moving Jack Leiter to the pen before Kumar Rocker.
This is a certified Bob Nightengale classic
slow day for rumors
It happens, even to teh nedicore…
Hang in there, Lil Nicky…you’ll get ’em next time!
According to this post, Bob Nightengale is full of it.
Oh, Boob…
Rangers are pathetic. 3 runs in 3 games???? All the money paid to these guys for this crap on the field??? SEC baseball is more exiting to watch than the Rangers