Kumar Rocker
RHP 6-5 255 Vanderbilt
Here is your first pick in the 2021 draft.
You may remember this name as one of the top high school players we talked about three years back. Instead of signing early, he chose to attend Vanderbilt and make history.
Pitchers like Brady Singer never see the light of draft day. They come off the board only when the worst team picks. There is an outside chance that Rocker could be picked 1.2, but I think he’s a lock as the first pick. His talent is legendary.
He throws a consistent mid-90s fastball that does hit 99.
Ended the 2019 season at Vanderbilt with a 19-K no-hitter. Also a wipeout slider and a change that could use some work.
2020 stat line: 3-Starts, 2-1, 1.80, 15-IP, 28-K
1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
He's No. 1 on pretty much everyone's list for a reason. Vanderbilt's ace throws 99 mph with a plus slider, and there's no need to project him physically, because he's already 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds. He comes by his size honestly -- his dad, Tracy Rocker, won the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy as an Auburn defensive linemen in 1988 and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.
Rocker has already excelled on the biggest stage, throwing a 19-strikeout no-hitter of Duke while being named Most Outstanding Player at the 2019 College World Series. He went 12-5 with a 3.25 ERA as a freshman, striking out over 10 batters per nine innings.
He also benefits from a strong program, because the recent track record of Vandy starters in the big leagues is impressive, from David Price to Sonny Gray to Mike Minor to Walker Buehler.
1. RHP Kumar Rocker, Vanderbilt
Bat: R. Throw: R. 6’4″, 255 lbs. Born 11/22/1999. Hometown: Athens, GA
2019-2020: 14-6, 3.06 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, 142/29 K/BB in 114.2 IP.
No surprises here, Kumar Rocker is the top prospect in the SEC. And in the entire draft, for that matter. We all know Rocker’s story; a clear first round talent coming out of the Georgia high school ranks in 2018, he knew he hadn’t yet hit his ceiling and headed north to Vanderbilt for school. His freshman year went about as well as humanly possible, of course highlighted by his 19 strikeout no-hitter of Duke in the super regionals, and that success continued into his sophomore season when he struck out 28 batters in 15 innings of work. No pitcher in the country can come close to matching his combination of stuff, upside, polish, and track record.
So what makes Kumar Rocker so great? We’ll start with the stuff. The big right hander is listed at 6’4″ and 255 pounds, and he looks it for sure. The fastball sits in the mid 90’s and can hit 97-98 pretty easily, and it’s tough to pick out out of his hand. His bread and butter is a wicked, easy plus slider that dives under bats late and has made many a seasoned college hitter look silly. When he winds up a regular on Pitching Ninja in the majors, that pitch will be the reason. Lastly, it’s easy to overlook his changeup behind that power fastball/slider combination, but even his third pitch is regularly above average with great sinking action down in the zone.
Usually, these big, hard throwing underclassmen with explosive stuff need a little refining, but Rocker is actually pretty polished. His delivery features a lot of movement, but it’s smooth, coordinated, and athletic and he repeats it very well. That enables him to be an above average strike thrower, and with an extremely competitive, bulldog mentality on the mound, he pounds the zone and goes right after hitters. Of course, when you’re talking about the potential first overall pick, you’re obligated to nitpick, and the nitpicks on Rocker are that his control is ahead of his command, the command can be a little inconsistent, and his delivery might need just a little smoothing out. Still, nothing is glaring, and just a little more consistency with his command could easily make him a true ace.
1) Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
One of the more well-known players in all of college baseball, Rocker has loud stuff with a very impressive track record to go along with it. The first thing that jumps out about Kumar is his physicality. Rocker is built like a defensive end. His 6’5, 255-pound frame creates an intimidating presence on the mound, and that strong frame makes it easy to envision him being durable throughout his career. In terms of his arsenal, his fastball sits anywhere from 91-95 and typically tops out at 96, but he does have some trouble holding that higher-end velocity. Usually by about the 4th or 5th inning he is working in more of the 91-92 range. He commands his fastball well and throws it for strikes to both sides of the plate. Rocker also shows an ability to get swings and misses with his fastball towards the top of the zone at times, even though his high release point doesn’t generate an ideal vertical approach angle. The breaking ball is what is going to make Rocker one of the first players off the board in June. His slider is an absolutely filthy offering that has earned a 70 grade from me. The pitch’s vicious bite and touch of gyro spin (which gives the pitch a good amount of drop) made college hitters look silly, and according to some it even improved metrically in the brief 2020 season. Rocker is able to land the slider for strikes as well as throw it below the zone to miss bats. Just like with his fastball, the pitch’s quality starts to dip as he works deeper into games. Because of how dominant the fastball/slider combo is, he doesn’t really throw a changeup much, but as he progresses and sees better hitters that pitch may come back. He has a good feel for the pitch low in the zone and produces solid movement on it that can miss bats. Mechanically, Rocker is pretty sound with clean arm action, a low ¾ arm slot, and good arm timing. He is athletic with stability in his front leg after release height, but there are times when he seems to lose balance after release. For Rocker to stay perched at the #1 overall spot, he has to show that he can hold his velocity and stuff deep into games. If he does that and shows the same stuff and strike-throwing ability we have seen thus far from him, he profiles as a perennial all-star and a top-of-the-rotation arm for a contending team.
Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
He is the front-runner to be the first overall selection currently, but others rising, injuries, and regression could change that in a hurry. We have not gotten to see college baseball much in 2020, meaning the 2021 season will be paramount for evaluators and teams to determine someone like Rocker’s worth. The slider is filthy; I don’t think we need 2021 to tell us that:
For the Detroit Tigers, it may be a good idea to start replenishing a system with pitching as most of their top pitchers are on the cusp of the major leagues. The club has spent 14 of its 16 selections in the first 10 rounds on position players the last two years. Some feel there is reliever risk associated with Rocker’s profile as he is heavily a Fastball/Slider pitcher and it is traditionally tough to start without a third pitch, but the slider is so good that teams may not care. I have joked about a “Kumar We There Yet?” tanking campaign, but it may have a chance of becoming true.
1. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
Kumar Rocker has the most to lose in the 2020-2021 NCAA season. As of now, Vanderbilt’s ace is in pole position to be 1:1 next June. As we saw with Emerson Hancock, it’s hard to maintain that spot for a whole year, especially in a deep draft. That said, Rocker also has a lot going for him. Elite velocity? Check (98 MPH). A track record of success? Check (3.51 ERA). A plus slider? Check. Control? Check. What does he need to do to stand up against the rising of the tide? Further develop his changeup, continue to dominate college hitters, and not get injured. That’s it.
Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt
Rocker should be one of the most coveted top selections in quite some time.
The right-handed pitcher went 12-5 with 114 strikeouts as a freshman, with a 19-strikeout no-hitter in the super regional against Duke his top performance.
He started 2020 with a 2-1 mark, 28 strikeouts and three earned runs conceded over 15 innings.
Rocker should be Vanderbilt's ace for the 2021 campaign, and he will have plenty of eyes on him every time he takes the mound.
The highest scout presence could come against Florida, if the Commodores and Gators meet up, since it possesses a strong one-two punch in Tommy Mace and Jack Leftwich, both of whom may be first-round picks.
Expect Detroit, Kansas City and Miami to be some of the contenders for the top selection, but there is a chance a surprise team finishes with the MLB's worst record if a shortened season is agreed to.
The book on Rocker is reasonably simple. Fastball command will ultimately dictate whether he has a mid-rotation ceiling or a true ace. He’s yet to be a guy that issues a lot of free passes, but big league ball would likely exacerbate fastball command concerns. Despite his size and accomplishments, he’s still entirely projectable with inefficiencies in fastball command and spin efficiency. There’s a lot to like in Rocker including his demeanor and competitive arsenal. He’s a premier talent and likely will not last past the Top 3.
That being said, whenever you’re talking about a 18-19 year old who’s already pushing two and a half bills, there’s pause. Rocker is built like a house, and it’s a pretty strong, sturdy body. He may run into some issues toward the latter half of his big league career, but for the time being, the body isn’t much of a concern.
Seattle got very lucky in seeing Emerson Hancock, the presumptive number one pick a year prior to the 2020 draft, fall to them at 6. It’s unlikely Rocker would have a similar fall save an unexpected injury.
All signs, whether you like it or not, point toward a top five selection in the 2021 draft for the Mariners. Whether it’s “FUBAR for KUMAR” of “Hit Rocker Bottom”, there are silver linings in rooting for an underperforming team.
RHP Kumar Rocker - Vanderbilt
Three of the first four picks the Orioles made in this draft were from the SEC, and they probably spent some time watching Rocker’s Vanderbilt teammate, Martin. I would guess they already have a decent idea of whether they like Rocker or not. He has had a lot to like about his college performance already, including when he threw a no-hitter as part of Vanderbilt’s route to last year’s college baseball championship. Not bad for a freshman.
McDaniel on the pluses:
At his best, Rocker’s fastball velocity would sit at 94-98 mph for a couple of innings and he’d flash a 65- to 70-grade slider ... he projects to settle with two comfortably plus pitches in his fastball and slider, with starter command, delivery and build along with a peerless track record of success at Vandy.
Among the minuses are concerns that he’s already “maxed out” physically, meaning that unlike prospects who get the “projectable” label he won’t be adding any strength or velocity he’s not already showing.
Lunar Rocker sounds like Bob Gibson II
ReplyDeleteThere is none better in this draft.
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