For Kumar Rocker, spring training is time to show the Rangers what he’s worked on

MESA, Ariz. — Two innings, 28 pitches and a single Cactus League run allowed will not decide Kumar Rocker’s bid for the Texas Rangers’ fifth rotation spot, but the 26-year-old right-hander still treated Saturday’s outing against the Chicago Cubs as a progress report. Competing primarily with left-hander Jacob Latz, Rocker is attempting to convince new manager Skip Schumaker and the front office that an offseason of targeted work has tightened the holes that produced a 5.74 ERA and a mid-season Triple-A demotion last year.

Schumaker, who has spent the early weeks of camp repeating that roster spots are “not won or lost on Feb. 22 or March 1,” nevertheless wants to see evidence that players are stress-testing winter adjustments. “You’re not going to make or not make a team from this outing — I promise you that,” he said. “But you do want to see progress, and you want to test what you’ve been working on in the offseason.”

Rocker’s to-do list is specific: increase changeup usage, command first-pitch strikes, control the running game and maintain composure on the mound. He checked some boxes, left others empty. Of nine batters faced, he threw first-pitch strikes to two. Cubs base stealers swiped second twice, though Schumaker labeled the first theft acceptable because Rocker’s delivery time met internal benchmarks. The second steal, he admitted, came on a slower home-plate trip.

The positives were easy to spot. Rocker recorded all three first-inning outs on sliders, including a four-pitch sequence to left-handed All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong that showcased the full repertoire: four-seam miss, curveball strike, changeup foul, slider whiff. The changeup, thrown only 6.1 percent of the time in 2024, was deployed twice Saturday. “It felt good,” Rocker said. “I’m getting good results from it, I just need to throw it more.” Schumaker believes that pitch can “open up” Rocker’s four-seam fastball by keeping left-handed hitters honest.

The manager also praised Rocker’s intent to hold runners and noted that his sinker generated ground-ball contact while the slider remained “really good.” Still, Schumaker cautioned against over-weighting a brief February look. “His whole arsenal is just tough to throw in two innings, right? So if you’re having a good feeling with one, you’re also trying to make a team.”

Rocker understands the balancing act. “It’s hard as a young pitcher right now to work on stuff, also be successful, try to make a team,” Schumaker said. “There’s a lot going on for him. I think he did really well with the combination of all of those.”

The Rangers will spend the remainder of the Cactus League schedule evaluating whether Rocker’s adjustments are sustainable against major-league lineups. Latz remains in the fifth-starter mix, and Schumaker reiterated that no decision is imminent. For now, every two-inning block is a snapshot, not a verdict — and Rocker’s next snapshot comes with an opportunity to sharpen the changeup, quicken to the plate and pile up first-pitch strikes.