Kumar Rocker Earns Minor League Award

Originally posted on Texas Rangers on SI
By Matthew Postins | Last updated 4/17/23

Kumar Rocker won his first minor league award on Monday, being named the South Atlantic League's Pitcher of the Week after not giving up a run in two starts.

Rocker pitches for the Hickory Crawdads, the Rangers’ High Class-A affiliate. He started games on Tuesday and Sunday of last week, throwing eight shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and one walk.

He's the first Rangers player to win a SAL award this season.

On Sunday, Rocker helped the Rangers shut out Delaware 3-0. He threw three shutout innings and he jump-started a four-pitcher crew that gave up three hits total.

Rocker gave up two of those three hits, striking out four and walking one on just 38 pitches, 25 of which were strikes. Larson Kindreich worked the next three innings and got the victory.

Rocker is the Rangers’ No. 8 prospect per MLB.com.

Rocker wrapped up an efficient week that saw him start the opening game of the series with Wilmington. His original start date was pushed back due to rain delays during the first weekend of the season.

On Tuesday, Rocker gave up two hits in five innings of shutout baseball. He also struck out eight and walked none. He retired the first eight hitters he faced in that game.

Rocker was the Rangers’ first-round pick in July (No. 3 overall) and didn’t play in the system after his selection. He did play in the Arizona Fall League and helped the Surprise Saguaros win the AFL title. He was also named an AFL All-Star.

In the AFL, Rocker went 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA in six starts, throwing 14 innings and giving up 12 hits with seven runs (all earned). He walked 12 and struck out 18.

He ended up in professional baseball with Tri-City in the Frontier League. He went 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA in five starts. He pitched 20 innings, gave up 11 hits, four runs (three earned), two home runs and four walks. He struck out 32 and had a .750 WHIP.

More From SI’s Inside The Rangers: