ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker have both made the Opening Day roster for the Texas Rangers, with the recent first-round draft picks filling the final two spots in the rotation.
"I think the talent on both is obvious, and they've earned the right to be out here," general manager Chris Young said Tuesday.
In another move, outfielder Evan Carter, who was limited to 45 games by back injuries in what was supposed to be his first full big league season in 2024, will start the season in the minor leagues.
Leiter was the second overall pick in the 2021 amateur draft, a year before his former Vanderbilt teammate, Rocker, was taken third overall by the Rangers. Rocker had Tommy John surgery in 2023, and both pitchers made their big league debuts last season.
"At Vandy that last year, I don't think we ever could have imagined that this would be happening. ... Same team, same rotation, Opening Day roster. It's awesome," Leiter said.
Added Rocker: "Means everything. I think we've just gotten closer as friends, as teammates, and just doing it side by side. This being the first year is going to be something special."
Manager Bruce Bochy said Leiter, the son of former big leaguer Al Leiter, will pitch Friday against the Red Sox in the second game of the regular season, but he could follow an opener. Rocker is set to start the first road game Monday at Cincinnati.
"These are two guys that we think a lot of, great stuff and that we think can help us win ball games," Bochy said.
Texas had open rotation spots after right-hander Jon Gray broke his right wrist when he was hit by a line drive in a spring training game March 14, and left-hander Cody Bradford was shut down from throwing because of soreness in his elbow. Both will start the season on the injured list, while struggling Dane Dunning was sent back to the minor leagues.
Free agent left-hander Patrick Corbin signed a $1.1 million, one-year contract last week and threw a simulated game Monday. Young said Corbin is expected to the minors to make two starts while continuing to build up before joining the big league team around April 11.
Carter was called up in September 2023, making his big league debut 10 days after his 21st birthday. He hit .306 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 23 games to finish the regular season, and then he reached base in all 17 of the Rangers' postseason games -- including an MLB postseason record nine doubles -- en route to the team's first World Series title.
"I know I can help this team win," Carter said. "So take advantage of the opportunity to kind of have a stress-free environment to get back to what I know I can do.
"I've proven to myself and everybody else that I can do it, and I did it on the highest stage. So I know that it's in there, and I've just got to get right back to feeling confident."
Rangers president of baseball operations Chris Young still expects Carter to play a big part this season.
"He just needs some reps. He missed a lot of time, swing's not dialed in right now," Young said. "(I) have full confidence he's he's going to get going here. And when he does, he's going to be right back here."