The New York Mets picked RHP Kumar Rocker out of Vanderbilt University with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.
Rocker was regarded as the best prospect in the 2021 draft class heading into the season, but his up-and-down junior season has tempered the excitement surrounding the 6-foot-5, 245-pound right-hander. Rocker has a 2.73 ERA with 179 strikeouts and 39 walks in 122 innings for the Commodores this season. But, like his heavily-hyped rotation mate, Jack Leiter, he appeared to wear down as the season progressed, allowing five or more runs in five of his last thirteen appearances. Rocker’s inconsistency, combined with the fact that his fastball dropped to the low 90s early in the season, has raised more questions about his ability to dominate as a pro, but the odds are still in his favor, given his elite size and stuff (a mid-90s fastball, a mid-80s slider, and a low-80s fastball) and his success against elite collegiate competition.
Reference:https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2021/7/11/22570525/mets-select-kumar-rocker-10th-overall-in-the-2021-mlb-draft
