Rangers brass are considering attempting hard-throwing teen Kumar Rocker within the nearer function when he returns from the injured listing, in line with a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Right this moment. Rocker is at present rehabbing from a proper shoulder impingement that’s stored him sidelined over the previous month, however is already on a rehab task and anticipated to be able to return within the close to future.
Shifting a consensus top-50 prospect within the sport to the bullpen regardless of him having began all eight video games of his main league profession up to now can be one thing of a daring transfer, nevertheless it’s additionally an comprehensible one to contemplate for a group badly in want of a spark. The Rangers at present sport a 26-28 document that leaves them on the skin trying in of the AL playoff image. A lot of these struggles have been right down to an anemic offense that has struggled to generate runs regardless of having large title gamers like Wyatt Langford, Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, and Joc Pederson up and down the lineup.
Maybe the group that entered play at present tied for the third-fewest runs scored within the majors might put themselves in a greater place to succeed if their pitching was top-notch; in spite of everything, the Rangers are tied with the Royals when it comes to runs scored, and Kansas Metropolis is at present clinging to the ultimate AL Wild Card spot with a 29-25 document thanks largely to a group ERA of three.07, second in baseball behind solely the Mets. The Rangers aren’t any slouches in the case of pitching, themselves, as their group ERA of three.38 is nice for sixth within the majors. Notably, nonetheless, a lot of that prowess has come from a beginning rotation that has featured standout performances from veterans Nathan Eovaldi, Jacob deGrom, and Tyler Mahle. Rocker has not been a part of that success, as even when wholesome he’s pitched to a lackluster 8.10 ERA in 5 begins this 12 months regardless of stable peripherals.
The bullpen, however, is a spot the place Rocker might be able to make an affect. The Rangers have handled a middling bullpen for years, and regardless of overhauling the unit this offseason that is still the case as they’ve pitched to a 4.20 ERA that’s good for simply nineteenth within the majors. Including an electrical arm like that of Rocker to the combo might assist the Rangers maintain onto leads late in video games, particularly with veteran reduction ace Chris Martin at present on the shelf attributable to shoulder fatigue and not using a clear timeline for his return to motion. If Rocker can dominate out of the bullpen by pitching at max-effort and never worrying about attempting to go a number of innings, then it’s doable that he might get acclimated to the majors extra successfully as a reliever and assist the Rangers the place they’re most in want of a jolt on the pitching facet of issues.
Whereas beginning a high pitching prospect’s profession within the bullpen is uncommon, it’s hardly unprecedented. Chris Sale stands as maybe probably the most notable instance of an ace hurler who started within the main league bullpen earlier than changing again to the rotation afterward, however Garrett Crochet, Jeff Samardzija, and Texas’s personal C.J. Wilson are amongst a handful of different notable names. Hurlers have even begun changing from reduction to rotation roles later of their profession lately, with Seth Lugo and Clay Holmes standing out as notable examples from the previous few seasons. In fact, this technique would nonetheless include some danger. There’s no assure that Rocker would instantly take to a job change, and even when he did the Rangers would successfully be hollowing out a few of their rotation depth by not letting Rocker keep stretched out and utilizing him in shorter bursts.
