Kumar Rocker continues to prove why he’s ranked as the best pitching prospect in the Texas Rangers system.
The Frisco RoughRiders’ right-hander was dominant again in his latest outing, showcasing the stuff that has Texas League hitters struggling to keep up.
Rocker’s performance, coupled with strong outings from Jack Leiter and Paul Bonzagni, made it a successful night across the Texas Rangers’ farm system.
Rocker Dominates, Frisco Rolls
Rocker wasted no time establishing his dominance on the mound, firing four and two-thirds scoreless innings in Frisco’s 9-3 victory over the San Antonio Missions. The right-hander was overpowering, striking out eight batters, with six of those strikeouts coming on swings. He consistently hit the radar gun with speeds up to 100 mph, making him almost untouchable.
Here’s Rocker’s final line:
- 4.2 IP
- 3 H
- 1 BB
- 3 groundouts
- 3 flyouts
- 8 SO (6 swinging)
- 70 pitches / 46 strikes
While Rocker did give up two hard-hit balls, his overall performance continues to show that he’s too much for Texas League hitters to handle.
His was his longest outing so far. In total, he’s pitched 19.2 innings, allowed 1 run, 9 hits, 3 walks and 29 strikeouts. Batters have a .13 batting average against him.
He appears to look the part of a Major League pitcher. Fingers crossed. He may very well make his next start for Round Rock.
Alejandro Osuna belted his 4th of the season, while Aaron Zavala chipped in with a perfect 2-for-2 night, driving in three runs.
Frisco also saw power from Abimelec Ortiz, who crushed his 10th home run of the season, a 396-foot shot that left the bat at 100 mph. Ortiz finished the night 1-for-3 with three RBIs, two walks, and three runs scored. The RoughRiders are now 9-1 in games where Ortiz homers.
On the pitching side, Jacob Latz, who is on his MLB rehab assignment earned the win.
The victory moves Frisco to 69-47 on the season.
Leiter Strong in Round Rock
Not to be outdone, Jack Leiter also turned in a strong outing for the Round Rock Express, continuing what was a standout night for the Vandy Boys.
Leiter pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits. He struck out nine batters while walking just one, throwing 75 pitches, 55 of which were strikes.
Leiter’s final line:
- 5.2 IP
- 2 R (1 ER)
- 4 H
- 1 BB
- 9 SO
- 75 pitches / 55 strikes
The Round Rock offense exploded for an 18-5 win, with four players—Justin Foscue, Trevor Hauver, Jonathan Ornelas, and Jax Biggers—collecting three hits each. Hauver led the way with four RBIs, while Biggers and David Knapp added three RBIs apiece. The win marked Leiter’s 6th of the season.
Bonzagni and Disla Power Hickory
Meanwhile, in Hickory, Paul Bonzagni was sharp on the mound, earning his second win for the Crawdads in a 4-1 victory. Bonzagni’s ability to induce groundouts kept the Rome Braves in check, as he pitched six innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out five.
Bonzagni’s final line:
- 6 IP
- 3 R (1 ER)
- 5 H
- 1 BB
- 8 groundouts
- 4 flyouts
- 5 SO
- 1 wild pitch
- 79 pitches / 46 strikes
Arturo Disla led the way at the plate for the Crawdads, going 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
Sebastian Walcott added a 2-for-3 night, driving in a run and drawing a walk.
Bright Spots for Down East
The Down East Wood Ducks may have fallen 4-1, but there were promising performances in the loss. Casey Cook, the Rangers’ 3rd-round pick in the 2024 draft, went 3-for-4 and collected his first professional double.
On the mound, Josh Trentadue delivered a strong relief performance, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out six.
A Good Day for the Rangers Organization
After being swept across the organization yesterday, the Rangers’ farm system bounced back in a big way today.
Kumar Rocker’s continued dominance, coupled with strong performances from Leiter, Bonzagni, and several key hitters, has the future looking bright in Texas.
