ARLINGTON, Texas -- It was a long road for Kumar Rocker to make his first start of the 2026 season.

First, he battled with Jacob Latz throughout Spring Training to earn the fifth and final spot in the starting rotation. 

Then, Rocker stayed back in Arizona to get in some extra work while the team played in a pair of preseason exhibition games in Arlington. 

It was there that first-year manager Skip Schumaker FaceTimed Rocker and informed him that he had made the team.

Just when it seemed like the crazy beginnings to Rocker's season would end, he was thrust into a possible bullpen role on the season-opening road trip. 

Finally, that wild road came to an end on Saturday night at Globe Life Field as Rocker made his first start of the season in the Texas Rangers' 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Despite all of the craziness before he even touched a big-league mound this season, Rocker didn't seem phased as his opening act to the 2026 season was a strong five-inning performance in which he allowed just two runs. 

It didn't always look like Saturday night would be a positive for Rocker as he surrendered both of his earned runs in just the first four batters of the game.

However, Rocker bounced back to fire four consecutive scoreless frames after that and had an overall positive takeaway from the night.

"Rocker was excellent," Schumaker said after the game. "After the first inning with a couple of tough plays behind him, he really settled in." 

The highlight of the night for Rocker came in the fifth inning. After Reds second baseman Matt McLain reached third base with no one out, Rocker was able to get star shortstop Elly De La Cruz to ground out to Corey Seager and then strike out back-to-back batters to escape the frame.

"That fifth inning was a real growing moment for him," Schumaker said. "No outs and a guy on third, Seager made an unbelievable play behind him, it hit off the mound, and I think in between Rocker's legs and short hopped, fantastic, and then [Rocker] punched out a couple of guys right after that, which was the heart of their order". 

Unfortunately for the Rocker and the Rangers, their offense was shutout for the first time in 2026, managing just four hits. 

"We had some pitches in the heart of the plate that we just didn't capitalize on," Schumaker said. "Two runners in scoring position, that's all we had; we didn't have many guys in scoring position to do anything with tonight." 

The Rangers will look to avoid the sweep tomorrow afternoon in their first Sunday home game of the season. First pitch is at 1:35 PM CST.

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