Texas Rangers pitching prospect Kumar Rocker has a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and requires Tommy John surgery. The Rangers announced this on Tuesday.
The injury is expected to sideline Rocker for the rest of 2023 and part of the 2024 season. Pitchers generally take 12 to 18 months to return from Tommy John surgery.
The Rangers selected Rocker with the number 3 pick in the 2022 draft. The selection marked Rocker’s second draft. The New York Mets pulled him from Vanderbilt at number 10 in 2021. Rocker and the Mets never agreed on terms after his physical reportedly caused problems with his throwing elbow.
The Mets forfeited the selection and received an offsetting pick at number 11 in 2022. They used the pick to select Georgia Tech catcher Kevin Parada.
Rocker returned to the same draft and the Rangers selected him at number 3 overall to the surprise of some given his elbow problems. He agreed with the Rangers and made six starts with the High-A Hickory Crawdads, recording a 3.86 ERA and 1.00 WHIP with 42 strikeouts and 7 walks in 28 at bats.
