Kumar Rocker #80

Kumar Julian Rocker...son of Tracy and Lalitha Rocker…father is a former college football star who played defensive tackle for Auburn University in the late 1980s… he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004 and is currently the defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles…played with Washington in the NFL from 1989-90... mother is an instructional designer…the name “Kumar” translates to “prince” or “young child” in Hindi, and is a nod to his mother’s Indian heritage…went 28-10 with a 2.89 ERA over 42 games/39 starts across three standout seasons at Vanderbilt University from 2019-21, including 14-4 with a 3.17 ERA and 13.2 strikeouts per nine innings in 20 starts as a junior for his final collegiate campaign...unanimous first team All-American and finalist for both the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy in 2021 when he led the nation with 14 wins and 179 strikeouts…was a freshman on the Commodores’ 2019 College World Series championship team, earning selection CWS Most Outstanding Player…prepped at North Oconee HS in Bogart, Ga., where he also lettered two years in football…was also drafted by Colorado in the 38th round of the 2018 MLB Draft…named 2017-18 Gatorade Georgia Baseball Player of the Year.

2022

Did not see official game action after his selection in the MLB Draft…made five starts with the Tri-City Valley Cats of the Independent Frontier League over the summer, going 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA (3 ER/20.0 IP) and 32 SO/4 BB...club was managed by former Rangers slugger Pete Incaviglia…posted 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings and 0.750 WHIP figures...recorded seven SO in each of his final three starts, earning a win in his last outing on 7/1 vs. Empire State (5.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R-0 ER, 1 BB, 7 SO).