NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Yet another Vanderbilt baseball alum will be making his Major League Baseball debut this week as the Texas Rangers called up Kumar Rocker and announced him as their probable starter for Thursday’s game at Seattle.
Rocker’s debut will make him the 18th Commodore to appear on an MLB roster this season, leading all NCAA programs. Rocker joins former Vandy teammate Jack Leiter in the Rangers rotation.
Leiter has shown improvement in each of his last two MLB starts.
“In his most recent stint with the big league club, Leiter has looked notably calmer. He’s been more confident in himself, trusting that his stuff would play at this level,” MLB.com’s Kennedi Landry wrote after Leiter’s start on Sept. 7.
After a tough first inning, Jack Leiter slowed down and found his confidence during one of the best starts of his young career.
The @Rangers‘ No. 4 prospect struck out six batters with 20 whiffs across five-plus innings: https://t.co/aSPhQQrqWV pic.twitter.com/GuQQZTq7Cq
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 8, 2024
Elsewhere around the league, JJ Bleday made history this week with his 39th double on the season that broke Dave Henderson’s record for most doubles by an Oakland center fielder in a season.
Curt Casali left the yard on Sept. 8, his first of the season, to help lead San Francisco to a win over the Padres. Dansby Swanson is on the verge of a third consecutive 3.0-plus WAR season for the Cubs and Sonny Gray continues to be a bright spot in the Cardinals’ rotation, sporting a 12-9 record with a 3.84 ERA.
Sonny Gray, Wicked Sweepers. 🤢
6Ks thru 6. pic.twitter.com/QCFjlJTvsx
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 5, 2024
In the minor leagues, Enrique Bradfield Jr. is just one of several former Commodores making a name for themselves in the professional ranks. Bradfield was promoted to AA last month and in the 22 games since, is hitting .282 with 12 stolen bases and seven extra-base hits in addition to regular highlight plays in center field. Bradfield isn’t the only Vandy alum flashing leather, Spencer Jones showed off his athleticism with this catch for Somerset this week.
6-foot-6 Spencer Jones has the RANGE in center field for the Double-A @SOMPatriots!
See what he and his fellow @Yankees prospects have in store next FREE: https://t.co/Fn04T43Dv3 pic.twitter.com/2HyrE570By
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 8, 2024
Not to be outdone, Javier Vaz turned in this effort for the Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
Javier Vaz lost his hat and glasses — but not the ball! 😎@nwanaturals | @Royals | @KCRoyalsPD pic.twitter.com/PHJ0eunGZo
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) September 6, 2024
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