MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, left, announces the selection of Kumar Rocker by the Texas Rangers with the third pick of the 2022 MLB baseball draft, Sunday, July 17, 2022, in Los Angeles. The Yankees have been linked to several college hitters, and Sterlin Thompson would be one of the best college bats still left on the board. Taking an underslot deal at No. Pontes and ESPN MLB Draft expert Kiley McDaniel agreethat the stuff Rocker showed was similar to when he was at his best with Vanderbilt. Miami struck gold at pick No. The Reds could then use the No. So how high could Rocker go? While the future hasn't quite taken shape for him, he's still a star in the making in my opinion. The switch-hitter doesn't have a defensive home, which puts extra strain on his bat to carry him to the big leagues, but if his bat is what many believe it to be, he could be a middle-of-the-order slugger for years to come. "The total number of examples that are similaris like a single digit number;there's still not that many," McDaniel said. With Collier (and Jacob Berry, another model darling) off the board in our mock draft, we'll give them Parada, who seemed unlikely to be available this deep into the draft most of the summer. He threw. Rocker made five starts for the ValleyCats, totaling 20 innings. This time, they'll go with a prep left-hander. PIT. Parada has been commonly linked with the Nationals this offseason, and he's likely to fall to them, if he doesn't get selected by Texas. 32 (compensation for losing Nick Castellanos to free agency) and No. 2022 MLB Mock Draft: Orioles take Termarr Johnson at No. 11 in our mock draft, paving the way for the Mets do something big here. "This one has some legs," Law wrote, noting that Boston has been "heavy" on Rocker since he joined theTri-City ValleyCats of the independent Frontier League in June and has sent representatives to each of his starts this summer. Hughes stumbled a bit late in the season but offers a great combination of upside and probability. 19 pick last year, a few weeks after he had Tommy John surgery) and Toman is one of the higher upside hitters in the draft class. Aug 6, 2021. The Ms dont have the same track record with hitters during the Dipoto era. It seems like the easiest call Jerry Dipoto will make this year if Kumar Rocker falls into Seattles lap. We believe the Bears will stick with Justin Fields so they'll go with the top non-QB prospect here. All indications are he's looked very good and has a chance to go in the back half of the first round. 10), June 16 mock pick:1B/3B/OF Jacob Berry, LSU June 30 mock pick:Berry, Pick:SS Jett Williams, Rockwall-Heath HS (Texas) ($4,778,200 slot value), This is the pick the Mets received as compensation for failing to sign Kumar Rocker last year and that's notable because if they fail to sign whoever they select here, they don't get another compensation pick next year. He will reunite with former Vanderbilt teammate, Jack Leiter, who was the No. Why would they not take a position of need?. He has No. DECISIONS TO MAKE:Can Vanderbilt baseball keep top recruits after MLB Draft 2022? Rocker would enter an organization that includes former top picks Brendan McKay, Shane Baz (acquired via trade from Pittsburgh) and Shane McClanahan, and budding top prospect Taj Bradley. The 2022 MLB Mock Draft features stars such as Spencer Jones, Nate Savino, Bryce Osmond, Connor Prielipp, Hunter Barco and many more. 32 pick on whichever top high school pitcher slips out of the first round (there's always a few), and pay him a top 15-ish bonus. Boston has Chris Sale and Garrett Whitlock signed through 2024,and Nick Pivetta under club control for three more seasons. While the competition level in independent ball is variable, many of the hitters he was facing were former minor leaguers in their late 20s. The 2022 MLB draft is just hours away, so it's time for my final mock draft update, Mock 3.1. 01:15. 18. MLB does not have a draft lottery. Considering the lack of a bonafide star this year, and high school players dominating the top of the draft board, its not a reach to say Kumar Rocker is the most known player in Julys draft. I didn't accidentally leave Tennessee reliever Ben Joyce or former Vanderbilt righty Kumar Rocker off this projection. 23, the Blue Jays could end his fall down the board. Imagine Gilbert, Kirby, and Rocker headlining a playoff rotation in 2024. College World Series gets underway in Omaha, Nebraska, and it'll be a hot start. 1 pick in the country. Especially when you consider the lack of coverage college and high school baseball gets in places that arent hotbeds of talent. 1, Dodgers SS Gavin Lux tears ACL, will miss entire season, Joe Musgrove fractures big toe in weight room, Cubs' Suzuki withdraws from WBC due to injury, Rays ace Tyler Glasnow suffers oblique injury. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: Unranked), June 16 mock pick: OF Chase DeLauter, James Madison June 30 mock pick:RHP Kumar Rocker, Tri-City ValleyCats, Pick:OF Sterlin Thompson, Florida ($2,974,900 slot value), This is where the run of second-tier college bats is expected to begin. Even with the improved coverage over the last few years, the player pool is ridiculously deep, and it is quite the challenge to keep up with even a fraction of the players. Jones is not the most refined hitter in the draft class, but he has serious power, and he's an excellent athlete. The Mariners' competitive window is just beginning to open as stars like Julio Rodriguez and Logan Gilbert reach the majors, so taking an advanced player would be in their best interest. The Mets get the first one after failing to sign Kumar Rocker last season. Edward Sutelan is a content producer at The Sporting News. Now, his draft stock is uncertain. 5 min read 2022 MLB Mock Draft 2.0 As we stand on the precipice of what could be a very transformative offseason, it becomes obvious that this upcoming draft could be a lot. Both Keith Law of The Athletic and Joe Doyle of Prospects Live believe that the Phillies will use the No. PRODUCING MLB PLAYERS: Vanderbilt baseball recruiting: How well have the Commodores produced MLB Draft picks? Baltimore Orioles selected Jackson Holliday. Saving a few bucks on a college hitter at No. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File). just imagine he would get to pitch against the Mets a few times a year. Brewers Chase DeLauter, OF, James Madison. Mets Justin Crawford, OF, Bishop Gorman High (Las Vegas). A name many expected to hear called in the 2019 MLB Draft, Lee decided to forego MLB to play for his dad at Cal Poly. Kumar Rocker September 7, 2022 2023 MLB Draft - Mock Draft 1.0 Joe Doyle MLB Draft, 2022 MLB Draft The 2021 and 2022 MLB Drafts were both a bit prep-heavy at the top featuring five and four preps in the Top 10 picks respectively. Luis Gonzalez talks Draft Combine. AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Given the fickle nature of arm injuries and the Ms propensity for being cautious. Rumors persist that several teams are looking at him as a possible bullpen piece in the second half and the Padres seem like the perfect candidate for such a move. . If things go wrong with his health down the line, you still get a potential lethal bullpen arm, and you rejuvenate a fan base that needs something to get excited about right now. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: Unranked), June 16 mock pick: SS Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina June 30 mock pick:3B Max Wagner, Clemson, Pick:LHP Connor Prielipp, Alabama ($2,547,600 slot value), Once a candidate to go No. It is wild how much goodwill the Mariners threw away that they had before the season started. The final reason to draft Rocker is one that the team absolutely should not take into consideration,,, but just hear me out. The first round of this year's draft will take place on July 17 in Los Angeles. The 2022 MLB Draft is here. So, if the Red Sox feel like gambling with their late-first-round pick, Rocker might make sense considering the amount of research they've already done on him. Jordan Beck could fit that profile at No. Rockers upside is that of a potential ace, and if not for concerns regarding his medicals, he would likely be a top 10 pick again this year. By going third to the Texas Rangers, ex-Vanderbilt ace Kumar Rocker became surprise winner on first night of 2022 MLB Draft - at expense of the Mets. The 2022 MLB Draft is here. Gavin Cross makes sense here too. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: No. Vanderbilt baseball recruiting: How much attrition is normal? Jackson profiles as a true dynasty manager's dream, showing plus grades in contact . Mock spots: MLB: 7, BA: 7, TA: 2, FG: 7, SN: 9 . 3 overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft on July 17. July 15: . The first round of the MLB Draft is set for July 17 in Los Angeles. A lot has changed since Joes write-up nearly two years ago. The most common names mocked to Seattle are Tennesee outfielders Jordan Beck, Drew Gilbert, and Brock Jones. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. If not, they are very likely to go with Jackson Holliday over Termarr Johnson or Brooks Lee. By Ryan Miller | May 9, 2022 | Share on Facebook (opens in a new tab) . 2022 MLB Mock Draft Prospects Live Joe Doyle MLB Draft Just 12 hours removed from the 2022 standings sorting themselves out, now feels like an awfully good time to aimlessly write our first mock draft for the 2022 MLB Draft. As such . Kumar Rocker stats (2022): 1.80 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 32 strikeouts, 5.0 H/9 in 20 innings Rocker didn't return to Vanderbilt, instead preparing for the MLB Draft a year out. Kumar Rocker was already considered one of the best pitching prospects both in 2018 as a prep prospect and again in 2021 coming out of Vanderbilt. Cleveland has taken the gamble on pitchers with health concerns in the past, like when it selected Ethan Hankins 35th overall in 2018, and develops pitching talent like few systems, so it could be a fit for Dylan Lesko. 35 pick from the Royals for three prospects, Here are R.J. Anderson's top 30 draft prospects, Even with the news he had a shoulder cleanup procedure in September, The trade with the Royals earlier this week netted Atlanta an extra $2.2 million in bonus pool space, Report: Padres sign Rougned Odor to minor-league deal, 10 MLB positional battles ahead of Opening Day, How the Dodgers can replace Gavin Lux after injury, Fernando Tats Jr. returns to Padres lineup, Rhys Hoskins, Steven Kwan and more extension candidates, Padres, Manny Machado agree to 11-year, $350M deal, 2022 MLB Mock Draft: O's take HS bat at No. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: No. Hjerpe could come off the board a good 10 picks before Seattle's selection. The Phillies have gone back-to-back with prep arms in the first round in the past two years with Mick Abel and Andrew Painter. The Baltimore Orioles have the No. Law noted that, while there is the upside of a future second starter, Rockers potential as a quick riser, perhaps even reaching the majors this season, could be a selling point for the Phillies. The draft order was based on the reverse order of the 2021 MLB season standings. He fits Arizona's preferred profile of loud tools and elite athleticism. Rocker was selected 10th overall by the New York Mets in the 2021 draft but was not signed by the team after concerns about the health of his throwing arm. Astros Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt. In the latest version of his MLB mock draft that was released on Tuesday, The Athletics Keith Law had the Phillies selecting former Vanderbilt right-hander Kumar Rocker with the 17th overall pick. Braves Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga. ), but Gilbert does so many things well and would fit in the spacious Oracle Park outfield. 13) June 16 mock pick: OF Jordan Beck, Tennessee June 30 mock pick: SS Cole Young, North Allegheny HS (Pennsylvania), Pick:OF Chase DeLauter, James Madison ($3,180,600 slot value) It's never easy to pin down what the Cardinalswill do because they tend to pick later in the first round and thus cast a wide net. Graham offers them in his contact rates and hard-hit ability, and he passes the eye test too. 37) and thus the bonus pool space necessary to pay Lesko a top-10 bonus, which is where he was expected to go before elbow reconstruction. 70 (their competitive balance pick) and No. To date, Rocker has made just three starts for the ValleyCats. Yes, 7Ks in 2 innings.And the hat tip. The next batch of future stars will hear their names called beginning on Sunday, July 17. 1 overall, Prielipp had Tommy John surgery last May and recently began throwing showcases for scouts. The trade with the Royals earlier this week netted Atlanta an extra $2.2 million in bonus pool space and they can afford to meet Horton's asking price, which is rumored to in line with 10-15 range. Pittsburgh Pirates: Kumar Rocker, RHP, VanderbiltImmediately after 2020's draft, Kumar Rocker's name was atop everyone's list for the 2021 draft. . Well do a deeper dive as July 17th approaches, but the other potential options at #21 dont inspire a ton of confidence. VANDY BOYS IN THE MLB DRAFT:How well have the Commodores produced MLB Draft picks? 6:54 pm ET, Our R.J. Anderson ranked Rutschman the No. Heres what Law wrote about Kumar Rocker: Rocker left Vanderbilt to pitch for the independent Tri-City ValleyCats in upstate New York, where he was 95-98 in his first outing with two above-average breaking balls and an adequate changeup, showing a lower arm slot than he had last year. November 1, 2021. If his hit tool comes around, his upside is right up there with Jones. Kumar Rocker: RHP: 6'5" 245: No School: 13: Los Angeles Angels: Chase DeLauter: OF: 6'4 . MLB. 2022 MLB Futures: Best Bets For MVP, Cy Young, World Series Winner . Colorado Rockies - RHP Kumar Rocker, No School. He was named the 2022 Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year as the ace who led the Eaglets to their third consecutive state title and an 88-1 record over the past two seasons. Tab ) time, they are very likely to go in the past two years with Abel! Our mock Draft: How well have the Commodores produced MLB Draft on July 17 in Angeles. 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