Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker have both made the Texas Rangers’ opening day roster, with these recent first-round draft picks taking the last two spots in the rotation.
The Rangers also announced on Tuesday that Evan Carter will start the season in the minors with Triple-A Round Rock. Carter, an outfielder who had an impressive debut late in 2023 and played a key role in the team’s World Series championship, had an injury-filled 2024 and struggled with a .158 batting average in 14 spring games.
“I know I can help this team win. So take advantage of the opportunity to kind of have a stress-free environment to get back to what I know I can do,” Carter said after learning of the team’s decision.
Chris Young, the Rangers’ president of baseball operations, still expects Carter to be an important part of the team this season.
“He just needs some reps. He missed a lot of time, swing’s not dialed in right now,” Young said. “(I) have full confidence he’s going to get going here. And when he does, he’s going to be right back here.”
Regarding the young pitchers, Young mentioned before the team’s final exhibition game that both Leiter and Rocker had some strong moments in spring training.
“I think the talent on both is obvious, and they’ve earned the right to be out here,” Young said.
Leiter was the second overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft, a year before his former Vanderbilt teammate Rocker was selected third overall by the Rangers. Both are still rookies after making their big league debuts last season, with Rocker returning from Tommy John surgery in 2023.
“At Vandy that last year, I don’t think we ever could have imagined that this would be happening. … Same team, same rotation, opening day roster. It’s awesome,” Leiter said.
“Means everything. I think we’ve just gotten closer as friends, as teammates, and just doing it side by side,” Rocker said. “This being the first year is going to be something special.”
Jack Leiter pitches in the 1st inningDespite the excitement, Young noted that Leiter and Rocker were more reserved when they were told they made the team, likely because they expected it of themselves.
Manager Bruce Bochy said Leiter, the son of former big leaguer Al, will pitch in the second game of the regular season on Friday against Boston, possibly following an opener. Rocker, whose father is the defensive line coach for the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, is scheduled to start the first road game on Monday at Cincinnati.
Texas had open spots in the rotation after right-hander Jon Gray broke his right wrist when hit by a line drive in a spring training game on March 14, and left-hander Cody Bradford was shut down due to elbow soreness. Both will start the season on the injured list, while Dane Dunning, who struggled, was sent down to the minors.
Free agent left-hander Patrick Corbin signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract last week and threw a simulated game on Monday. Young mentioned that Corbin is expected to go to the minors for two starts to continue building up before joining the major league team around April 11.
Carter made his big league debut in September 2023, just 10 days after turning 21, filling in for an injured player. He hit .306 with five home runs and 12 RBIs in 23 regular-season games.
During the postseason, Carter reached base in all 17 of the Rangers’ games, hitting .300 with a record-setting nine doubles in MLB postseason history. He also drew 10 walks.
Carter’s 2024 season was limited to 45 games due to back issues, preventing him from playing a full season as expected. He finished with a .188 batting average, five home runs, and 15 RBIs.
“I’ve proven to myself and everybody else that I can do it, and I did it on the highest stage,” Carter said. “So I know that it’s in there, and I’ve just got to get right back to feeling confident.”
