Rangers select former Vanderbilt star Kumar Rocker 3rd overall

With the No. 3 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, the Texas Rangers selected Kumar Rocker.

Rocker is a right-handed pitcher who formerly starred for Vanderbilt before pitching in the independent Frontier League ahead of this season's draft.

Rocker entered the 2021 draft as a top-rated prospect following a dominating college career. He was chosen by the Mets with the 10th overall selection, but New York walked away from a $6-million deal after medicals showed concerns with the hurler's shoulder and elbow.

The Rangers loved Rocker's stuff and competitiveness, and they were comfortable with his medicals, according to Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Rocker and the Rangers agreed to terms on a $5.2-million deal, the New York Post's Jon Heyman reports.

"We're extremely comfortable with the medical review that our medical team has done. ... That's why we drafted him," Rangers general manager Chris Young said, according to Kennedi Landry of MLB.com.

Bio

Age: 22
Position: RHP
Height/Weight: 6-5, 245 lbs
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Pitched in Frontier League
Pick value (3): $7,591,600

Tools

• Nasty 70-grade slider
• High-90s fastball when he's at his best
• 60-grade curveball with plenty of vertical break

Why fans will love this player

• Threw 19-strikeout no-hitter as freshman in 2019
• Son of former NFL defensive lineman Tracy Rocker
• Proven winner

Things he'll need to overcome

• Must prove shoulder and elbow are healthy
• Command can be an issue at times
• Needs better results from changeup

Take a look ...

(Video source: Sarah Hamilton)