Kumar Rocker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kumar Rocker |
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Rocker with the Vanderbilt Commodores
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| Texas Rangers – No. 80 | ||||||||||||||
| Pitcher | ||||||||||||||
| Born: November 22, 1999 Watkinsville, Georgia, U.S. |
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| debut | ||||||||||||||
| September 12, 2024, for the Texas Rangers | ||||||||||||||
| MLB statistics (through July 19, 2025) |
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| Win–loss record | 4–6 | |||||||||||||
| Earned run average | 5.35 | |||||||||||||
| Strikeouts | 62 | |||||||||||||
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Medals
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Kumar Rocker was born on November 22, 1999. He is an American professional baseball pitcher. He plays for the Texas Rangers in Major League Baseball (MLB).
Before joining the pros, Rocker played college baseball. He was a star pitcher for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He was first picked in the 2021 MLB draft by the New York Mets. However, he did not sign with them.
After playing one year in a different league, the Rangers chose him in the 2022 MLB draft. He signed with the Rangers and made his big league debut in 2024.
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Early Life and College Baseball
Kumar Rocker grew up in different places across the Southern United States. He lived in Montgomery, Alabama, Arkansas, and Tennessee. Eventually, his family settled in Georgia.
He went to North Oconee High School in Bogart, Georgia. In 2017, when he was a junior, he had a great season. He had a 1.63 earned run average (ERA). This means he allowed very few runs to score against him. He also had 68 strikeouts in 55 and two-thirds innings.
That year, he played in special games for top high school players. He also played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team.
Rocker decided to play college baseball at Vanderbilt University. Many people thought he would be picked early in the 2018 MLB draft. But he was not chosen until the 38th round. Teams were worried about whether he would sign a contract or go to college. He chose to go to Vanderbilt.
College Success
On June 8, 2019, Rocker made history. He became the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in the Super Regional round of the NCAA college baseball tournament. A no-hitter means the other team gets zero hits in the whole game. He struck out 19 batters as Vanderbilt beat Duke 3–0.
Rocker was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series in 2019. This was after Vanderbilt won the national championship on June 26, 2019. He won both of his games in the College World Series. He finished his first year with a 12–5 record. He was also named the best freshman player by Baseball America.
The New York Mets picked Rocker with the 10th choice in the 2021 MLB draft. Rocker and the Mets had agreed on a $6 million signing bonus. But the Mets decided not to offer him a contract after looking at his medical information. Rocker had surgery on his shoulder in September of that year. He did not go back to Vanderbilt after this.
Professional Baseball Career
Starting in the Frontier League
Before the 2022 MLB draft, Kumar Rocker signed with the Tri-City ValleyCats. This team plays in the Frontier League, which is an independent baseball league.
He pitched very well for Tri-City. He had a 1.35 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 20 innings. His fastball could reach speeds of 99 miles per hour.
Joining the Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers selected Rocker in the first round of the 2022 MLB draft. He was the third player chosen overall. This reunited him with his former Vanderbilt teammate, Jack Leiter.
On July 26, 2022, Rocker signed with the Rangers. He received a $5.2 million signing bonus. He did not play in any games after signing that year. Instead, he worked out at the Rangers' training facility. After the 2022 season, Rocker played in the Arizona Fall League. He had a 2–1 record with a 4.50 ERA in 14 innings there.
In 2023, Rocker was invited to the Rangers' major league spring training. He made 6 starts for the High-A Hickory Crawdads. He had a 2–2 record and a 3.86 ERA. He struck out 42 batters in 28 innings pitched. On May 16, 2023, it was announced that Rocker needed Tommy John surgery. This type of surgery repairs a ligament in the elbow. It meant his season was over.
On September 12, 2024, the Rangers called Rocker up to the major leagues. He made his MLB debut that night against the Seattle Mariners. Rocker was also on the Rangers' Opening Day roster for the 2025 season.
Personal Life
Kumar Rocker's father is Tracy Rocker. Tracy Rocker played in the National Football League (NFL). He is also in the College Football Hall of Fame from Auburn University. Currently, he is a coach for the Tennessee Titans.
Kumar's mother, Lalitha, is from India. Her parents moved to the United States from Andhra Pradesh, India. Kumar's parents met when his mother was a student at the University of Maryland. His father was playing for the Washington Redskins at the time.
