Prospect Report: Kumar Rocker Throws Two Scoreless Innings
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Despite command and control that still aren’t likely up to the standards he’d prefer, Rangers righthander Kumar Rocker made progress in his second start of the Arizona Fall League.
Rocker, who was chosen with the third overall pick in this year’s draft, threw one inning in his AFL debut Oct. 4. He doubled that total on Monday in Surprise’s win over Scottsdale. Both outings were scoreless.
As was the case last week, Rocker’s fastball sat in the 94-96 mph range and touched 97. He complemented the fastball with a low-90s changeup and his signature slider in the 83-84 mph range.
Rocker walked two and struck out two in this outing, with both of his strikeouts coming on whiffs at the slider. Those were the only whiffs he induced in his 32 pitches, 18 of which were strikes.
Rocker was also aided by catcher Cody Freeman, who caught a runner trying to steal in the second inning.
The two outings were not only Rocker’s first of the Fall League, they were the first two of his Rangers career in any setting.
Afterward, Rocker was pleased with the progress he’d made from start to start.
“I was just in the zone more,” he said. “The changeup was good, the slider was good. The fastball, I’m just still getting the timing for that just to get everything synched up.”
Rocker likely has another four starts left in the AFL—one a week until the season finale. That means he has four more chances to get innings under his belt, four more chances to test himself against some of the best competition he’s ever faced, and four more chances to learn about who he is as a pitcher.
So, when the AFL comes to a close, what does he hope to have accomplished?
“I’ve got no expectations for (the AFL),” he said. “I just want to have a good time and keep winning ballgames with this team.”
Jasson Dominguez, OF, Yankees: In an excellent day overall for Yankees prospects, Dominguez had his best offensive game of the AFL. The 19-year-old went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and two walks during Mesa’s loss to Peoria. His first hit was an opposite-field liner off of a 96 mph fastball from Peoria starter Bryan Woo. Later, he sent a scorching line drive to the wall in center field that ended up a double, his first extra-base hit of the Fall League.
Jeferson Quero, C, Brewers: Though it won’t count in his minor league stats, Quero on Monday came through with the first four-hit game of his career. The 20-year-old catcher doubled twice, scored twice and drove in two runs in Glendale’s win over Salt River. Moreover, Quero threw out both attempted basestealers. He has now caught 6 of 10 runners trying to steal against him, good for a 60% clip.
Austin Martin, SS, Twins: The centerpiece of the deal that sent Jose Berrios to the Blue Jays, Martin has had an inconsistent professional career. He’s long shown a strong knowledge of the strike zone but has displayed little in the way of power. He’s been on fire of late in the AFL. He went 3-for-4 with a double and a stolen base on Monday, his second straight game with three hits. He’s riding a four-game hitting streak and has reached base in all five of his Fall League contests.
| ORG | CLASS | PLAYER | AB | R | H | RBI | AVG | NOTES |
| ARI | WIN | Jordan Lawlar, SS | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.278 | BB (5), |
| ARI | WIN | Deyvison De Los Santos, 3B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.167 | E (1), |
| ATL | WIN | Cal Conley, SS | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.250 | 2 BB (2), |
| BAL | WIN | Heston Kjerstad, OF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.333 | |
| BAL | WIN | Cesar Prieto, SS | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.111 | CS (1), |
| BOS | WIN | Niko Kavadas, 1B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.444 | 2B (1), |
| BOS | WIN | Wilyer Abreu, RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.133 | 2B (1), |
| BOS | WIN | Nick Yorke, IF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.304 | |
| CHC | WIN | Brennen Davis, CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.278 | |
| CIN | WIN | Noelvi Marte, SS | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.174 | |
| CIN | WIN | Matt McLain, SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.176 | 2 BB (8), |
| CIN | WIN | Rece Hinds, SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.238 | |
| CLE | WIN | David Fry, C | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | |
| CLE | WIN | Angel Martinez, IF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0.211 | |
| CLE | WIN | Connor Kokx, OF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.313 | |
| COL | WIN | Warming Bernabel, SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.125 | |
| COL | WIN | Grant Lavigne, 1B | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.438 | BB (1), CS (1), |
| COL | WIN | Zac Veen, OF | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | 2 BB (6), |
| CWS | WIN | Moises Castillo, SS | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0.500 | 2 2B (3), 2 SB (2), E (1), |
| DET | WIN | Parker Meadows, CF | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.158 | |
| DET | WIN | Dillon Dingler, C | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | |
| HOU | WIN | Zach Daniels, LF | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.143 | 2B (1), BB (1), E (1), |
| HOU | WIN | Scott Schreiber, LF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0.278 | |
| HOU | WIN | Will Wagner, 2B | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0.421 | 3 2B (3), BB (3), |
| LAA | WIN | Bryce Teodosio, OF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.200 | |
| LAD | WIN | Andy Pages, OF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.200 | 2B (1), |
| MIA | WIN | Victor Mesa, CF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0.200 | 2B (1), BB (3), |
| MIA | WIN | Joe Mack, C | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.231 | HR (1), |
| MIL | WIN | Jeferson Quero, C | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0.333 | 2 2B (2), |
| MIL | WIN | Tyler Black, 2B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.263 | BB (5), SB (2), |
| MIN | WIN | Austin Martin, SS | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0.444 | 2B (1), SB (4), |
| MIN | WIN | Alex Isola, C | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.133 | |
| NYM | WIN | Kevin Kendall, SS | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0.400 | 2 SB (3), |
| NYY | WIN | Jasson Dominguez, CF | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.286 | 2B (1), 2 BB (6), SB (3), E (1), |
| NYY | WIN | T.J. Rumfield, 3B | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0.500 | 3 2B (3), BB (4), |
| NYY | WIN | Tyler Hardman, 1B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.400 | BB (3), |
| OAK | WIN | Zack Gelof, SS | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0.263 | E (2), |
| OAK | WIN | Denzel Clarke, OF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.100 | SB (2), |
| OAK | WIN | Lawrence Butler, 1B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.417 | 2 BB (4), SB (1), |
| PHI | WIN | Johan Rojas, CF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.421 | SB (3), |
| PIT | WIN | Henry Davis, C | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.300 | 2B (3), 2 BB (5), |
| PIT | WIN | Jacob Gonzalez, 3B | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | |
| SD | WIN | Tirso Ornelas, LF | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.267 | BB (2), |
| SD | WIN | Jackson Merrill, SS | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0.375 | BB (5), |
| SEA | WIN | Robert Perez, 1B | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0.167 | 2B (1), 2 BB (3), |
| SF | WIN | Luis Matos, OF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.280 | BB (2), |
| SF | WIN | Andy Thomas, C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.100 | |
| STL | WIN | Pedro Pages, C | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.300 | |
| STL | WIN | Masyn Winn, SS | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.286 | BB (4), CS (1), |
| STL | WIN | Mike Antico, LF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | |
| STL | WIN | Jordan Walker, 3B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0.250 | HR (2), |
| TB | WIN | Ronny Simon, 2B | 6 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0.292 | HR (2), E (1), |
| TEX | WIN | Trevor Hauver, 2B | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.167 | BB (5), |
| TEX | WIN | Luisangel Acuna, SS | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.273 | |
| TEX | WIN | Cody Freeman, C | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0.444 | 2B (1), BB (3), |
| TOR | WIN | Samad Taylor, 2B | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.167 | BB (1), SB (2), |
| WAS | WIN | Drew Millas, C | 4 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.462 | 2B (2), HR (2), CS (1), |
| ORG | CLASS | PLAYER | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K | ERA | NOTES |
| WIN | Kumar Rocker, RHP | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.00 | W (1-0) | |
| ARI | WIN | Jackson Goddard, RHP | 1.1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16.62 | |
| BAL | WIN | Nick Richmond, RHP | 0.2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7.36 | |
| BAL | WIN | Nolan Hoffman, RHP | 2.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7.36 | |
| BOS | WIN | Thad Ward, RHP | 3.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4.70 | L (1-1) |
| CHC | WIN | Bailey Horn, LHP | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | |
| CHC | WIN | Sheldon Reed, RHP | 1.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6.00 | |
| CHC | WIN | Riley Martin, LHP | 2.0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6.23 | |
| CLE | WIN | Lenny Torres, RHP | 0.2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 15.43 | |
| COL | WIN | Blair Calvo, RHP | 1.1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16.20 | |
| CWS | WIN | Declan Cronin, RHP | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | |
| CWS | WIN | Lane Ramsey, RHP | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 15.43 | |
| HOU | WIN | Jonathan Sprinkle, RHP | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 13.50 | |
| KC | WIN | Jonah Dipoto, RHP | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4.50 | |
| LAA | WIN | Jack Kochanowicz, RHP | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2.08 | |
| LAD | WIN | Ben Harris, LHP | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15.00 | W (1-1) |
| LAD | WIN | Emmet Sheehan, RHP | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0.00 | |
| MIA | WIN | Holt Jones, RHP | 0.1 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 18.00 | L (0-1) |
| MIL | WIN | Abner Uribe, RHP | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | |
| MIN | WIN | Ryan Shreve, RHP | 1.1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 4.15 | |
| NYM | WIN | Franklin Sanchez, RHP | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4.50 | |
| PHI | WIN | Brett Schulze, RHP | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | |
| PHI | WIN | Taylor Lehman, LHP | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.00 | |
| PIT | WIN | Colin Selby, RHP | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6.00 | |
| SD | WIN | Alek Jacob, RHP | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0.00 | |
| SEA | WIN | Jorge Benitez, LHP | 2.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4.15 | |
| SEA | WIN | Bryan Woo, RHP | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | W (1-0) |
| STL | WIN | Connor Thomas, LHP | 5.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1.04 | |
| STL | WIN | Kyle Leahy, RHP | 0.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 18.69 | |
| TB | WIN | Sandy Gaston, RHP | 1.0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 16.20 | |
| TB | WIN | Evan Reifert, RHP | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.00 | |
| WAS | WIN | Amos Willingham, RHP | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 6.75 |
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