MLB Draft: Kumar Rocker’s contract makes the Mets look foolish

The Texas Rangers signed first-round pick Kumar Rocker to a contract, thus putting any injury concerns to bed relatively quickly.

The Mets, who drafted Rocker early in the first round last year, did not sign him to a contract due to those injury issues. While New York didn’t reveal exactly what they found during Rocker’s physical, it was enough to opt out of signing arguably the most MLB-ready pitcher in that draft class.

Now, Rocker is a Texas Ranger. After a season in which he pitched in a showcase for teams and in an independent league, Rocker made his medicals readily available to interested teams.

He was selected third-overall on Sunday night, far earlier than most experts predicted. Just a day later, he signed his contract under slot value, giving Texas more money to play with in this draft.

Kumar Rocker contract: Mets look foolish

While the Mets had every right to forfeit their rights to Rocker last season, for him to be selected a year later — and at a higher value — makes them look bad. Rocker will join forces with former Vanderbilt pitcher Jack Leiter in the Rangers’ system, and eventually even the big leagues should he make it that far.

Rocker brings with him an upper-90’s fastball, as well as a slider that consistently grades in the 70’s on the 20-80 scale used by most scouts. While he still has to work on some of his other breaking pitches, having those two pitches (especially the slider) in his arsenal is key. The fact that he can already locate them well is also vital, and makes him near-MLB ready.

The Vanderbilt product surprised many by opting to stay professional rather than return to Vandy for his senior season after the Mets decided not to sign him. However, the Rangers were clearly impressed with how he handled himself.

In the end, it all worked out after all.