Texas Rangers pitchers set to make season debuts in road series against Seattle Mariners

The Texas Rangers are preparing for a four-game series against the Seattle Mariners which will feature the Major League debut of one of the team’s most lauded prospects and the season debut of a former Cy Young Award winner.

Kumar Rocker, the No. 3 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft after a successful college career at Vanderbilt which saw him earn a unanimous All-American selection as well as the College World Series Most Outstanding Player Award in 2019, will make his MLB debut on Thursday against the Mariners.

Rocker was initially selected by the New York Mets 10th overall in the 2021 MLB Draft. However, the former Commodore didn’t sign by the mandated deadline after medical concerns were raised about his right shoulder and elbow.

Rocker made his Rangers organizational debut for the High-A Hickory Crawdads in 2023 and excelled going 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 28 innings before a right elbow injury required surgery and ended his seaon.

Rocker returned in July and dominated the minor leagues en route to a 0-1 record with a 1.96 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 36.2 innings. According to MLB Pipeline, Rocker is the second-best prospect in the Rangers farm system after shortstop Sebastian Walcott.

Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom will make his 2024 debut for the Rangers, his first game in the majors since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023 to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm.

DeGrom has stated multiple times that it’s important for him to pitch this season so he can focus on having a normal offseason regime. He’s pitched in four rehab starts, totaling 10.2 innings, and has given up one run off four hits with 15 strikeouts.

DeGrom is expected to pitch in the Rangers’ second game against the Mariners at 9:10 p.m. on Friday.

The Rangers completed a three-game series in Arizona on Wednesday afternoon. They entered that game with a 70-75 record and were 7.5 games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West standings.