What Are Rangers Planning for Kumar Rocker, Jack Leiter Down Stretch?

Before the Texas Rangers moved Nathan Eovaldi to the 15-day injured list, it was fair to say the Rangers had a surplus of starting pitching — even with right-hander Jack Leiter on the IL.

The Rangers had rotation coverage and then some. They put left-handed Cody Bradford in the rotation and put another left-handed starter, Jordan Montgomery, in the bullpen. Both are coming off significant elbow surgeries and recoveries.

The Rangers have less depth with Eovaldi out. But, Leiter should begin a rehab assignment this week after ankle surgery. The assignment should allow him to return to the starting rotation. Or could it be in a different role?

As president of baseball operations Chris Young did the rounds with the media on Monday, he talked about both Leiter and Kumar Rocker and acknowledged that decisions could be made to do something different with both pitchers — but for different reasons.

Looking Ahead With Jack Leiter

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter throws the baseball to a hitter during a game. — Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Young appeared on 105.3 The Fan and was asked about the idea of moving Leiter to the bullpen. Leiter has made three relief appearances as a Major League pitcher, all in 2024. He said that the organization sees Leiter as a starting pitcher long-term. But, in the short term, he admitted that the option could be explored because of the runway needed to be ready to return to the rotation.

“We just need to be open minded here,” Young said. “Jack could spend four weeks on rehab getting him back to the big leagues and built up as a starter, or we may be able to expedite that and get it back to the big leagues you know at two or three innings via the bullpen.”

Most organizations want starting pitchers built up to throw 75 pitches when they return to the Majors. Leiter threw a live batting practice on Saturday and tossed 33 pitches. If Texas wanted to entertain him as a long reliever, he probably needs to be built up to 50 pitches. That might require only two rehab starts.

Plus, most full season affiliates shut down in early to mid-September. when Eovaldi returned from an injury in September of 2023 he opted to build up at the Major League level because there wasn't enough time to build up in the minors.

Leiter is 3-7 with a 5.29 ERA in 15 starts. The ankle surgery helped remove an extraneous bone that was causing him pain and forcing him to alter his delivery.

Rocker in the Bullpen?

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker throws a baseball to a hitter during a game. — Texas Rangers starting pitcher Kumar Rocker., | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

With Rocker the calculation is different. It's not about injury — it's about use. The right-hander has thrown 111 innings in 22 games this year. He has a 4-9 record with a 4.46 ERA. He's closing in on doubling his innings workload from last season. In 2025 he went 4-5 with a 5.74 ERA in 14 games as he threw 64.1 innings before he was optioned back to the minor leagues in July.

Go back to his minor league career and only through 83.2 innings, in part because he had Tommy John surgery in 2023. Young noted in the same interview that they're already looking at ways to control Rocker’s workload down the stretch.

“That’s certainly something that's top of mind for us,” Young said. “We never want to put a player in harm’s way, so we are being very cognizant of the workload and the innings.”

Rocker has pitched behind an opener twice this year. He is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in 12.2 innings, with 16 strikeouts and three walks. As a starter he is 3-9 with a 4.85 ERA with 87 strikeouts and 39 walks. The right-hander certainly has “closer” stuff, but two outings behind an opener doesn’t mean he’ll thrive as a long reliever or in a leverage role for several weeks.

For now, the Rangers are rolling with Rocker, Bradford, Cal Quantrill — who will start on Wednesday — Jacob deGrom and MacKenzie Gore in the rotation. Montgomery is back-fill Eovaldi has a spot when he returns. Leiter is TBA. So is Rocker.

The reasons are different, but the logic might be sound.

“There’s some things that are trending in the right direction from a health standpoint that may allow us, should we need to, to protect Kumar and monitor his innings and workload.”

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