Rocker, Leiter make Rangers; Carter to start season in minor leagues

The Texas Rangers' Opening Day roster is taking shape.

Manager Chris Young announced Tuesday that starting pitchers Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker made the team, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Young also said outfielder Evan Carter did not make the big league club, per Landry.

Leiter had a respectable 3.48 ERA in six appearances this spring. The 24-year-old struggled in his first taste of MLB action in 2024, allowing 35 earned runs in 35 2/3 innings pitched.

Rocker, the third overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, made three starts for the Rangers last season. Opposing hitters shelled him for 13 earned runs in nine innings this spring.

Young said the pair will slot into the Rangers' starting rotation, according to Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News.

Carter entered last season as a popular Rookie of the Year candidate after an impressive 23-game stint and playoffs in 2023. A back injury ended up limiting him to just 45 games.

The 22-year-old hit just .154/.214/.205 with three walks and no home runs in 15 spring training games.

Texas opens its season Thursday against the Boston Red Sox.