ARLINGTON, Texas, May 22 (UPI) -- In what could very well be his last chance to succeed with the Texas Rangers, controversial reliever John Rocker has been optioned to the minors for the second time in just over a month.
He has 72 hours to report to Oklahoma City or be placed on the restricted list.
The Rangers expect him to join the RedHawks on Friday. They have called up lefthanded reliever Randy Flores to take Rocker's spot on the roster.
"Obviously, we still believe in John Rocker and he still has immense talent," said Rangers General Manager John Hart. "We think spending time in Oklahoma is the thing he needs to do. When he succeeds, it has been sporadic."
The 6-4, 225-pounder previously was optioned to Oklahoma City on April 17, but did not report before being recalled on April 23. Instead, Rocker spent a week in San Diego working with pitching coach Tom House. He allowed six runs in 8 2/3 innings since being called up from Triple-A.
For the season, opponents are batting .350 (21-60) off him, with left-handed hitters producing a .440 (11-25) average. He is 0-1 with a 7.53 ERA in 14 1/3 innings and had one save in four chances, when he was forced into the closer role because on an elbow injury to regular closer Jeff Zimmerman.
"We want John Rocker to go to Oklahoma City and work on getting left-handed hitters out and be much more consistent than he's been here," said Rangers Manager Jerry Narron. "Then we want him to come back and be a successful Major League pitcher. We are begging for John Rocker to be successful here."
Flores, 26, is 0-1 with a 5.02 ERA in nine relief appearances with Oklahoma City this season. He was previously with the Rangers from April 23-May 9, compiling a 2.45 era in seven appearances.
