<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1bxFgW_0vVAuODB00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1bxFgW_0vVAuODB00" width="912" height="513" ><figcaption>Sep 12, 2024; Seattle, Washington, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim (28) and starting pitcher Kumar Rocker (80) walk toward the dugout before the game against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images </figcaption></figure><a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Texas Rangers </a> top pitching prospect <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-rookie-pitcher-kumar-rocker-impresses-in-mlb-debut-against-seattle-mariners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Kumar Rocker </a> looked calm and undeterred after the first two batters he faced in his <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-top-prospect-kumar-rocker-making-mlb-debut-thursday-against-seattle-mariners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> MLB debut </a> reached on singles. That confidence served him well as he retired the next three Seattle Mariners to escape his first Major League start Thursday at T-Mobile Park. "I was like, 'Please don't let it go like this,'" Rocker told Bally Sports Southwest after striking out seven and holding the Mariners to a run in four innings. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> "Nah, it was good," Rocker said with a grin, with his <a href="https://www.si.com/fannation/mlb/fastball/news/tennessee-titans-coach-tracy-rocker-to-take-awesome-journey-to-see-son-kumar-make-major-league-debut-for-texas-rangers-against-seattle-mariners" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> parents, Tracy and Lu Rocker, watching </a> from the stands. Rocker did not figure in the decision after leaving with the game tied 1-1 after four, but the Rangers <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/texas-rangers-offense-comes-to-life-late-after-kumar-rocker-s-dazzling-debut" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> rallied to win 5-4 </a> , making it much easier for the <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/prospects/kumar-rising-texas-rangers-have-new-top-rated-minor-league-prospect" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft </a> to enjoy his big league debut. "I still can't believe it, but it was a good one. I'm glad we got a win out of it. It was a fun one," said Rocker, who <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/round-rocked-how-dominant-was-texas-rangers-top-pitching-prospect-kumar-rocker-in-triple-a-debut" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> turns 25 in November </a> . "Just staying in the game and working with runners on. I've got some things to work on, and I'll keep going at it." Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Rocker was on a pitch count of about 75 pitches. Rocker had Tommy John surgery in May 2023. Of his 74 pitches on Thursday, he threw 33 sliders, 28 four-seam fastballs, 10 sinkers, and three changeups. He recorded 17 swings and misses, including 13 with his slider. <nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate> "It's my favorite pitch to throw and I'll just keep using it and using it until they don't want to see it anymore," Rocker said. Bochy was most impressed with how Rocker handled the early trouble. "I'm sure he was nervous out there, and the first two guys get hits, and he's got runners in scoring position and nobody out, and he made pitches when he had to," he said. "It says a lot about him ... poise, presence. He just looked good out there, didn't he? He kept his composure and pitched out of a tough jam. He's got to feel good about that start," <figure><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Tracy and Lu Rocker, the Rocks behind it all ❤️ <a href="https://twitter.com/Rangers?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> @Rangers </a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StraightUpTX?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> #StraightUpTX </a><a href="https://t.co/OLsM8NeA2x" rel="nofollow"> pic.twitter.com/OLsM8NeA2x </a> — Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsSW/status/1834435734947987722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel="nofollow"> September 13, 2024 </a></blockquote></figure><nbtemplate data-id="AdPlaceholder" data-content="JTdCJTdE"></nbtemplate><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X <a href="https://twitter.com/StefanVersusTex?s=20" rel="nofollow"> @StefanVersusTex </a> . Catch up with <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/" rel="nofollow"> Inside the Rangers </a> on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SITexasRangers" rel="nofollow"> Facebook </a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/insidetxrangers" rel="nofollow"> X </a> . This article was originally published on www.si.com/mlb/rangers as <a href="https://www.si.com/mlb/rangers/news/please-don-t-let-it-go-like-this-kumar-rocker-shakes-off-two-quick-hits-in-dominating-texas-rangers-debut?utm_source=RSS" rel="nofollow"> 'Please Don't Let It Go Like This.' Kumar Rocker Shakes Off Two Quick Hits In Dominating Texas Rangers Debut </a> . </div></body>

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'Please Don't Let It Go Like This.' Kumar Rocker Shakes Off Two Quick Hits In Dominating Texas Rangers Debut

Texas Rangers top pitching prospect Kumar Rocker reacts to his MLB debut Thursday in which he had seven strikeouts and allowed one run in four innings against the Seattle Mariners.

'Please Don't Let It Go Like This.' Kumar Rocker Shakes Off Two Quick Hits In Dominating Texas Rangers Debut

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