John Rocker - Baseball Career

Baseball Career

John Rocker was a star pitcher for First Presbyterian Day School in Macon, Georgia. Rocker threw three no-hitters during his high school career. He was soon drafted by the Atlanta Braves.

The next year, he was promoted to the major league club and named their closer after an injury to regular closer Kerry Ligtenberg.In Rocker's first season in the Major Leagues, he was 1–3 with a 2.13 ERA in 38 innings pitched. The following year, an injury put Atlanta closer Kerry Ligtenberg on the DL, moving Rocker into the role, where he was 4–5 with 38 saves and a 2.49 ERA. In 2000, he was 1–2 with 24 saves, posting a 2.89 ERA, but in June 2000, Rocker was demoted for threatening a reporter.

Braves fans were initially willing to support him; however, as Rocker received intense taunting from opposing teams' fans his pitching performance declined. On June 23, 2001, Rocker was traded to the Cleveland Indians, with whom he played in the 2001 ALDS against the Seattle Mariners. Rocker was traded for right-handed relievers Steve Karsay and Steve Reed and cash in exchange for Rocker and minor-league infielder Troy Cameron, Atlanta's first-round draft pick in 1997. In Cleveland, his record was 3–7 with a 5.45 ERA and four saves. The Indians chose not to retain him, and traded him to the Texas Rangers for pitcher David Elder. In Texas he refused designation to the minor leagues. In 2002, he again struggled at 2–3 with a 6.66 ERA, and was released. In 2003, Rocker signed with Tampa Bay but was released after two appearances, with an ERA of 9.00.

He took the 2004 season off to recover from surgery on his left shoulder. In 2005, he signed with the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League after training with the Chattahoochee High School Cougars in Alpharetta, Georgia. The Cougars later went on to win the 5A State Championship. In April 2005, he asked New Yorkers to "bury the hatchet." After going 0–2 with a 6.50 ERA in 23 games, he was released on June 27, 2005.