The Texas Rangers shocked the baseball world when they drafted right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker. Here are some of the reactions from the pick.
The Texas Rangers shocked the baseball world on Sunday in the 2022 Draft. They had the third overall pick of the draft and they drafted right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker.
Rocker was 38th on the draft board for MLB.com, which led to the big surprise. However, he might be the player that is closest to the major leagues so he could help the Rangers pitching staff this season.
Texas Rangers draft Kumar Rocker to shock the baseball world
Kumar Rocker was drafted by the New York Mets with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 Draft. However, due to reported anomalies in his physical, the two sides never came to an agreement on a deal.
The Vanderbilt pitcher went 14-4 with a 2.73 ERA in 20 starts there but despite not getting signed, Rocker decided not to return to Vanderbilt. Instead, he decided to join the Independent League’s Tri-City Valley Cats.
In five starts with them, he has had a 1.35 ERA. Rocker was rewarded for betting on himself and moved up seven spots in the draft. Also, with the Rangers drafting him, he is reunited with his Vandy teammate, Jack Leiter.
Leiter, the son of former MLB All-Star Al Leiter, was drafted with the second overall pick by the Rangers last year is already in Double-A.
Here is some of the reactions from people on Twitter over the Rangers drafting Rocker.
😂😂 see you soon @KumarRocker https://t.co/BYAkqf5obp
— jack leiter (@jackleiter22) July 18, 2022
WOW KUMAR ROCKER THIRD OVERALL TO THE RANGERS
— Kelsey Wingert-Linch (@KelsWingert) July 17, 2022
Kumar Rocker at 3 is a stunner.
— Reviewing the Brew (@ReviewngTheBrew) July 17, 2022
He's a top talent for sure, but thought he could fall much farther, possibly even to Brewers at 27.@NolanWritinFS getting the Vandy Boys back together again
If you told me before last year’s draft that in one year’s time, the same team would have both Jack Leiter AND Kumar Rocker, I think my brain would’ve exploded. https://t.co/Wro91sP5bS
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 17, 2022
An audible gasp as the Rangers select Kumar Rocker. The most MLB ready pitcher in the draft. Guessing he will move quick, and unlike almost every other college-age SP, he has plenty of innings left this year. He's just started pitching.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) July 17, 2022
Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter reuniting in the Rangers’ rotation pic.twitter.com/98xuUSgr0N
— Jordan Wolf (@byjordanwolf) July 17, 2022
Kumar Rocker & Jack Leiter are about to be a problem in Texas aren’t they? https://t.co/beoOpavAks
— Dallas Braden (@DALLASBRADEN209) July 17, 2022
The Rangers are selecting Kumar Rocker with the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s MLB Draft. Holy f---
— kennedi landry (@kennlandry) July 17, 2022