Kumar Rocker DVOA, Advanced Stats, & Fantasy Rankings

Texas Rangers starting pitching prospect Kumar Rocker has earned a role in the starting rotation. Rocker was competing for a spot during camp. During spring training, the Vanderbilt product tossed nine innings and held a 13.00 ERA with a 2.33 WHIP. However, over his final start, Rocker turned the corner as he tallied eight punchouts across four 2/3 innings of two-run ball. Fellow top prospect Jack Leiter also earned a spot in the rotation with Cody Bradford (elbow) and Jon Gray (wrist) sidelined. Rocker made his brief MLB debut last summer and held a 3.86 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP across 11 2/3 innings. In the minor leagues, Rocker posted a strong 1.96 ERA and a stellar 0.79 WHIP across 36 2/3 cumulative innings across Double and Triple-A. Given his prospect pedigree and success in the upper levels of the minor leagues, Rocker is worth adding in all 12-team formats as a high-upside starting pitcher.

Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker tossed 4 2/3 innings on Thursday, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks while striking out eight in the 7-4 Cactus League loss to the Rockies. It was a step in the right direction after the 6-foot-5 hurler had given up 11 earned runs in 4 2/3 innings pitched while striking out just four batters over his first three starts. The former first-rounder threw 47 of 76 pitches for strikes and also recorded 12 whiffs and averaged 97.2 mph on his four-seamer. The final rotation spot is a competition between Rocker and Jack Leiter. While Thursday's start helps Rocker's case, Leiter likely has the inside track with a better performance this spring andmore MLB experience. Both are worthy of a roster spot in deeper fantasy leagues when they are in the rotation, but that might be later this year for one of them.

Texas Rangers right-handed pitching prospects Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, who were teammates at Vanderbilt, are both competing for the open spot in the starting rotation now that it's confirmed that left-hander Cody Bradford (elbow) will open the year on the injured list. If we had to bet, Leiter would be the favorite -- not only because he's looked better this spring, but because he has more big-league experience. The 24-year-old has shown increased velocity in camp and has allowed only three runs on seven hits while walking six and striking out 13 in four games (one start) covering 10 2/3 innings. Although he had an ERA over 8.00 and a 1.71 WHIP, Leiter pitched in nine games (six starts) in the big leagues in 2024. Rocker, meanwhile, made three starts last year but has allowed eight earned runs while walking two and striking out only two in just two Cactus League innings in his two starts.