According to a report from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Texas Rangers are considering using hard-throwing young pitcher Kumar Rocker as a closer once he returns from the injured list.
Rocker, currently rehabbing from a right shoulder impingement that has sidelined him for the past month, is already on a rehab assignment and nearing a return.
Though Rocker has started all eight games of his big league career so far, shifting a top-50 prospect to the bullpen would be a bold yet potentially strategic move for a team desperate for a spark.
With a 26–28 record and offensive struggles despite a star-studded lineup, the Rangers find themselves out of the AL playoff picture.
While their starting pitching has been solid—led by veterans like Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom—the bullpen remains a weak spot, ranking 19th in the majors with a 4.20 ERA.
Rocker, who has struggled with an 8.10 ERA over five starts despite promising peripherals, could be more effective in short relief appearances where he can throw at full effort.
The move could also help compensate for the absence of veteran reliever Chris Martin, currently sidelined with shoulder fatigue.
Though using a top prospect in relief is unconventional, it has worked for pitchers like Chris Sale and C.J. Wilson in the past. However, the approach carries some risk—if Rocker doesn’t adapt well or if the team later needs rotation depth, it could backfire.
