Surgery for Texas Rangers Prospect Kumar Rocker
Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker underwent his Tommy John surgery on Monday, per multiple reports.
The Rangers announced on May 16 that Rocker tore a ligament in his right elbow, which ended up being his Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL). He will be out for at least a year.
The surgery was to be performed by team doctor Keith Meister.
Rocker had thrown six games with the High Class-A Hickory Crawdads, where he had a 3.68 ERA and had won two games. He is the No. 6 prospect in the Rangers system per MLB.com.
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.
Rocker was the New York Mets’ first-round pick in 2021, but he went unsigned after the Mets were uncertain about his medicals. He later had an arm surgery that was characterized as minor by his agent, Scott Boras. That left Rocker to train for any professional opportunity he could get.
Rangers general manager Chris Young said Rocker's injury had nothing to do with the Mets' concerns.
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.
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