Mets reportedly won’t sign first-round pick Kumar Rocker

In a wild turn of events, the New York Mets don’t look like they’ll be signing first-round pick Kumar Rocker before the deadline on Sunday. 

For New York Mets fans who were dreaming of seeing star right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker take the bump at Citi Field, it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. In a bit of some stunning news, ESPN insider Jeff Passan is reporting that the team is unlikely to sign him.

With the deadline coming on Sunday, Passan’s sources are telling him that New York’s front office is so concerned with Rocker’s elbow issues, they’re not ready to take a risk and ink him to a big-time contract.

The New York Mets are not expected to sign Kumar Rocker before the deadline

While Rocker and the Mets had agreed to a $6 million deal, Passan is reporting that an elbow issue was revealed in Rocker’s physical. Because of this, New York has decided to move on from the former Vanderbilt standout.

Rocker was long expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, but he slipped a little and fell to the Mets at No. 10. Should the Mets indeed pass on inking Rocker, the club would receive the No. 11 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, per Passan.

As for Rocker, he could end up going back to Vanderbilt for next season, or he could potentially go and play professionally overseas. All of this was unexpected, but elbow concerns sure are nothing to gloss over. This is why the Mets have made such a tough decision.

This of course is a bit of a bummer for Rocker and the Mets, as he had high expectations for the club down the road. Now, his future is a bit in limbo moving forward.