Entering Sunday’s first round of the 2021 MLB Draft, there was little hope within the Mets‘ war room that Vanderbilt RHP Kumar Rocker would fall to the No. 10 overall pick.
“Not much,” is how Mets vice president of amateur and international scouting Tommy Tanous quantified it.
Against the odds, he did. And, after the Los Angeles Angels took RHP Sam Bachman at No. 9, the pick for the Mets was obvious. Rocker is the newest member of the Mets.
“We’re still so elated here, so happy that Kumar got to us,” said Tanous during a news conference after the selection. “We really thought there was very little chance that this would happen.”
“A pitcher of this talent and this portfolio doesn’t happen very often,” Tanous added. “We were thrilled.”
Rocker, who entered the 2021 season as a projected possible No. 1 overall pick, threw 122 innings this season with a 2.73 ERA and a 0.934 WHIP. Those numbers, along with mid-to-high 90s velocity, is why the Mets felt they left Sunday’s first round with a steal.
“I think after we got past a certain club of two — I won’t say what pick — but it started after the first handful of picks that we thought there was an opportunity here we just couldn’t pass up,” said Mark Tramuta, Mets director of amateur scouting. “This is a supremely talented player.”