The Texas Rangers are fighting to keep pace with an aging roster and a shrinking window for contention. While most of the Rangers woes come on the offensive side of the game, their bullpen hasn’t held much water this season either. That could lead the Rangers to try something a little different. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Rangers like the idea of using right-hander Kumar Rocker in the closer role when he comes off the injured list.
Closer Kumar Rocker?
Rocker, 25, was once a highly touted pitching prospect. Much ado was made when he spurned the New York Mets in the 2021 MLB Draft. Since then, injuries have slowed his development, but the Rangers have something that might work for all parties involved.
Nightengale wrote that the Rangers are ‘seriously considering’ using the right-hander out of the bullpen, specifically as the team’s closer. He cited that the team believes his fastball-slider combo could be a huge weapon out of the bullpen. Rocker is currently working his way back from a shoulder impingement.
Kumar Rocker, back on the mound again
The @Rangers‘ No. 2 prospect spins three scoreless frames and strikes out three in a rehab outing for Double-A @RidersBaseball: pic.twitter.com/wmldSQjVgH
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) May 24, 2025
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While closer Kumar Rocker might be a fantasy, there is an actual need.
The Rangers Bullpen Woes
The starting rotation for the Rangers has been excellent this season. The staff as a whole has a 5.33 win probability added, the best in all of MLB. They have a 2.90 ERA as a staff, which is second only behind the New York Mets. Their 3.52 FIP is fifth in MLB, which suggests that this is a very real run that the rotation is on. The Rangers are in a good spot with Nathan Eovaldi, Tyler Mahle, and Jacob deGrom leading the way. Add a resurgent Patrick Corbin; Rocker isn’t needed in the rotation.
The closer role and the bullpen, however, are a different story. In the 9th inning this season, the Rangers have a 4.95 ERA, the highest of any inning for them by almost a full run. The relief unit is 19th in MLB. They’ve blown nine saves on the season, with Luke Jackson garnering the most saves at eight. He has a 5.40 ERA.
Adding closer Kumar Rocker to the back end of the bullpen would allow manager Bruce Bochy and the Rangers to have options. Particularly lethal swing and miss options. In 2024, Rocker had a 13.5 K/9 across 36.2 innings, It’s clear that he has the stuff to make a closer role work. Rocker hasn’t pitched more than 37 innings since his college days with Vanderbilt in the 2021 season.
Trying the 25-year-old out at closer is a mix of perfect timing and a way to get him back in the big leagues in a way that can help the Rangers. And who knows? Maybe the Rangers can hit just enough and save enough games to find themselves in a postseason spot.
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