Kumar Rocker Set to Begin Rehab Assignment in Frisco

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt Graves | Last updated May 22, 2025 4:01 PM ET

After missing the last month due to injury, Texas Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker is set to begin building his pitch count back up in hopes of returning to a starting role.

According to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News, Rocker will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Friday.

Grant also notes that, with the Rangers' bullpen facing a "bind in the bullpen", Rocker's return could be accelerated if he's brought back as a reliever. While Rocker does have one relief appearance during his rehab from elbow surgery, Grant points out that he's never been viewed as a reliever.

However, his reliance on a slider-sinker combo could make him more effective in the short term out of the bullpen.

The Rangers' bullpen owns a 4.02 ERA, which ranks 17th in the majors. The unit has compiled a 1.280 WHIP with 149 strikeouts, 63 walks and a .239 opponents batting average. While not among the league's elite, the bullpen has held steady in the middle of the pack.

Before the injury, Rocker posted an 8.10 ERA with 16 strikeouts and 5 walks in 20 innings. Rocker was drafted third overall by Texas in 2022, a year after concerns over a physical led him to going unsigned by the New York Mets as the 10th pick.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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