Former Capital Region Pitcher Set for Major League Debut This Week

Kumar Rocker's long journey to Major League Baseball will soon be complete.

Rocker, a collegiate baseball standout and former member of the Tri-City ValleyCats, is set to make his MLB debut on Thursday of this week, as confirmed by ESPN.

Rocker spent three years as a member of the Vanderbilt Commodores, and quickly became one of the most coveted pitching prospects in baseball following his junior campaign. In 20 games that season, he finished with a record of 14-4 and an ERA of 2.73.

That performance led Rocker to be selected by the New York Mets in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft. Rocker and the Mets verbally agreed to a contract, but after reviewing his medical evaluation, New York rescinded the offer.

READ MORE: The Many Mysteries Between The New York Mets and Their Draft Pick

That split led Kumar Rocker to the Capital Region, where he spent a portion of the 2022 season with the Tri-City ValleyCats. The right-hander pitched in five games, and finished with a record of 1-0 and a stellar 1.35 ERA.

Rocker was once again considered a top prospect when the 2022 MLB Draft rolled around. He was selected seven spots higher in 2022 than he was the year before, going 3rd overall to the Texas Rangers.

Rocker's journey as a professional has been a bit tumultuous, a word you could also use to describe his time as an amateur. Rocker underwent Tommy John surgery in the spring of 2023, and returned to the mound roughly one year later.

He pitched to a pristine ERA of 0.46 in five starts in Double A in 2024, and delivered a 1.80 ERA in two starts in Triple A. Now, he's headed to the Major Leagues, and is set to face the Seattle Mariners in a game on Thursday, September 12th.