Report: Texas Rangers promote Jack Leiter to MLB, Kumar Rocker to AAA

According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, a couple of former Vanderbilt baseball stars are receiving promotions inside the Texas Rangers organization.

Jack Leiter, who has been in AAA Round Rock, will make his next start with the big league club. His former partner in crime in Nashville, Kumar Rocker, will be replacing him in the AAA rotation for the time being.

Both players have enjoyed nice stretches over their last few starts and are being rewarded by the Rangers. Huge opportunities ahead.

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This will not be Leiter’s MLB debut, already making three appearances in a Texas uniform. However, all of them have been out of injury necessity for the Rangers. This go-round, Leiter has earned a call-up thanks to dominating his last two starts.

Leiter took a break from pitching after a July 27 appearance, not returning until Aug. 15. Two starts have been made since then where the numbers are incredible. A total of 9.1 innings with five hits allowed, three runs (two earned), just two walks, and 20 strikeouts.

His velocity has reached a new level too, consistently hitting between 97-99 miles per hour on the fastball while even reaching triple digits at one point. The slider was high 80s too, getting a whiff rate just around 50%. Leiter has struggled for consistency during his professional career thus far but Texas is hoping this run from the former No. 3 overall pick can translate to the Majors.

Because the numbers while with the Rangers have not been pretty. An ERA of 16.39 in 9.1 IP will follow Leiter back to the Majors, conceding 17 earned runs while walking six and striking out seven.

Moving over to Rocker — he is coming off Tommy John surgery from last season. Texas has been careful on working him up but the results have been more than eye-popping.

Rocker has thrown 19.2 innings in five appearances, giving up nine hits and one run (earned) while striking out 29 batters and walking three.

Like Leiter, Rocker’s fastball has sat between 97-99 but reached 100 mph multiple times. MLB.com does not even rate that as his best pitch either, only having a 60 grade. The slider is a 70 grade and has AA batters fooled. AAA guys will now get their crack at it.

Texas used the No. 2 overall pick on Rocker in 2022 after he could not agree to a deal with the New York Mets the previous year. Injury concerns surrounded the Vanderbilt product, making it a big risk for the Rangers. Yes, elbow surgery was required in 2023 but Rocker’s development has been huge for the franchise.

If he can perform well with Round Rock, there may be another promotion in store for Rocker before the 2024 MLB season is over.