Considering the lack of a bonafide star this year, and high school players dominating the top of the draft board, its not a reach to say Kumar Rocker is the most known player in Julys draft. Just Baseball's updated MLB mock draft after the first few months of the College baseball season. The switch-hitter is the best college position player in the class with an advanced hit tool and plus power, and the chance to stick at shortstop. A lot has changed since Joes write-up nearly two years ago. After taking high school pitchers in Mick Abel and Andrew Painter in the first rounds of the previous two drafts, Rocker could be someone who can make a big-league impact soon, a real bonus when considering the bullpen struggles happening in Philadelphia. Odds & lines subject to change. I am almost always of the camp that says take the high school player with the higher ceiling over the college player with the higher floor. Kumar Rocker is likely one of the most famous prospects in the 2022 class. Astros Spencer Jones, OF, Vanderbilt. Mock Drafts Tool. The hulking build is impressive, yes, and he knows how to use it 2022 MLB Draft, 2023 MLB Draft There's plenty of big names from both the 2022 and 2023 draft classes on this roster that have grabbed our draft crew's attention this past spring. 8-1-21 - cbs sports - When the Mets landed right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker, the Vanderbilt superstar, with the 10th overall pick in the 2021 draft, there was a feeling it could be a steal. He was the hero of the super regionals in 2019 when he struck out 19 Blue Devils in a no-hitter as a freshman. The Rockies have been linked to a number of college bats at this pick, and Arizona catcher Daniel Susac could be a great fit for them at this spot. If Jones is available, as he is in our mock draft, the Diamondbacks will take him. Thank you for still reading this far, 2. The fit:Zack Wheeler (two more seasons) and Aaron Nola (three more seasons) are locked up through 2024. Cross is a complete player, who has shown average or above skills across the board, and would provide the Royals with a low-risk bat that could fly through the minors quickly. Wild Acquire Former Bruins Forward Ahead Of NHL Trade Deadline, Devin McCourty Shuts Down Mac Jones 'In The Building' Rumors, Alex Cora Wants Masataka Yoshida To Give Message To Team Japan Before WBC, Alex Cora Reveals Encouraging Sign About Red Sox Lefty James Paxton, Red Soxs Alex Cora Gives Surprise Choice For Spring Training Standout, Cat Comically Disrupts Red Sox-Marlins Spring Training Game. 24 overall selection. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: Unranked), June 16 mock pick: RHP Blade Tidwell, Tennessee June 30 mock pick:OF Chase DeLauter, James Madison, Pick:SS Peyton Graham, Oklahoma ($2,620,400 slot value), A sluggish start to the spring had Graham on the outside of the first-round mix at one point, but by the end of the season he was back in first-round consideration because he does many things well. February 3, 2023. Also, if the Mets don't take Williams, there's a chance he slides into the 20-30 range. However, the tantalizing upside of Elijah Green might be too much to pass up. Rocker looks no worse for wear with Tri-City, however: The 22-year-old owns a 1.35 ERA with 32 strikeouts over five starts for the ValleyCats and sat between 95 and 98 mph with his fastball in his first start, per Law. The 2022 college baseball season is now underway, which is an exciting time for prospectors everywhere. Just getting back? The most common names mocked to Seattle are Tennesee outfielders Jordan Beck, Drew Gilbert, and Brock Jones. Market data provided by Factset. It took a while for a high-school pitcher to be selected, but Brock Porter is the first off the board here as the Padres bank on his lofty upside. 8), June 16 mock pick:Williams June 30 mock pick:SS Zach Neto, Campbell, Pick:C Daniel Susac, Arizona ($4,587,900 slot value), The Tigers have been linked to a wide range of players and, given their desire to contend sooner rather than later, a college player seems most likely. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: Unranked), June 16 mock pick: 3B Tucker Toman, Hammond HS (South Carolina) June 30 mock pick:OF Justin Crawford, Bishop Gorman HS (Nevada), Pick:OF Drew Gilbert, Tennessee ($2,485,500 slot value), The Volunteers went 59-7 with a plus-421 run differential this season (yes, plus-421) and they could have as many as three players selected in the first round: Gilbert, Jordan Beck, and righty Blade Tidwell. MLB bloodlines in '23 Draft class. Tony Spinelli for ESPN It was about this time last summer that the . White Sox Kumar Rocker, RHP, No school. By the time the draft comes, we expect Stroud to be the first quarterback of the board. The problem is that the 21.4% K% doesn't really make us believe too vehemently in those numbers. The 2022 MLB Draft will be held between July 17-19, 2022. Nationals Kevin Parada, C, Georgia Tech. Especially when you consider the lack of coverage college and high school baseball gets in places that arent hotbeds of talent. 4 overall pick and were heavy on him once he started pitching for Tri-City in June. I think they'd jump on Dylan Lesko and it's very possible he makes it this far. Long term, the Red Sox are paying a lot of money to pitchers who have been injured throughout 2022. MORE: Humble Druw Jones looking more and more like father Andruw, 2. 6), June 16 mock pick:SS Brooks Lee, Cal Poly June 30 mock pick:Lee, Pick:OF Elijah Green, IMG Academy (Florida) ($6,494,300 slot value), The most consistent connection throughout the spring has been the Nationals and Kevin Parada, the draft's best catcher. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on Twitter @aria_gerson. 3 overall) of the 2022 MLB Draft on July 17. Rocker, 22, was the 10th overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft . (CBS Sports top 30 rank: No. 24 pick. Cleveland has a competitive balance pick (No. Not even the O's know who they're taking with the No. MLB. The final reason to draft Rocker is one that the team absolutely should not take into consideration,,, but just hear me out. The fit: In MLB.com's top 30 prospect lists by team, the Padres have just two pitchers in their top 30. Contrast that with tomorrows NBA Draft. The Mets need to sign a player in this spot, a pick they received for failing to sign Kumar Rocker last year, as they will not receive another compensation pick if they can't sign the player here. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: Unranked), June 16 mock pick: SS Eric Brown, Coastal Carolina June 30 mock pick:3B Max Wagner, Clemson, Pick:LHP Connor Prielipp, Alabama ($2,547,600 slot value), Once a candidate to go No. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: No. This year the three-day event beginson Sunday in Los Angeles. Braves Gabriel Hughes, RHP, Gonzaga. Gambling problem? 2022 MLB mock draft . Joe Doyle did a fantastic write-up leading up to last years draft. Pick:2B Termarr Johnson, Mays HS (Georgia) ($8,842,200 slot value). Jones is not the most refined hitter in the draft class, but he has serious power, and he's an excellent athlete. Related: 2022 MLB Mock Draft Version 4.0. Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Kumar Rocker, RHP, Vanderbilt. Kumar Rocker's one-year wait to get another chance to join a MLB franchise is almost over. With the College World Series nearing the finish line, the 2022 MLB Draft is almost here. He's a better defensive catcher than Parada, and while his bat isn't on Parada's level, it is still an above-average bat both in hitting and power. 11 (compensation for failing to sign Kumar Rocker) and No. Rocker was a big-time pitcher for Vanderbilt, which won the 2019 NCAA baseball championship. July 15: . 2022 MLB Mock Draft: Druw Jones, Elijah Green go early; Blue Jays get Kumar Rocker; Rays take Crawford's son 2022 MLB Mock Draft: Druw Jones, Elijah Green go early; Blue Jays. The Cardinals are going back with a high-floor pick in Cooper Hjerpe, a southpaw with a well-rounded repertoire and plus control and command. Theres not an easy fix to most of those problems, but if you want to generate some buzz and good feelings around the team in the midst of one of the most disappointing seasons in recent memory, then drafting Kumar Rocker is the way to do that. The Most Outstanding Player at the 2019 College World Series was selected by New York with the 10th pick, however, the Mets rescinded their pre-draft offer for a signing bonus following his physical and medical evaluation. 35 pick from the Royals for three prospects, Here are R.J. Anderson's top 30 draft prospects, Even with the news he had a shoulder cleanup procedure in September, The trade with the Royals earlier this week netted Atlanta an extra $2.2 million in bonus pool space, Report: Padres sign Rougned Odor to minor-league deal, 10 MLB positional battles ahead of Opening Day, How the Dodgers can replace Gavin Lux after injury, Fernando Tats Jr. returns to Padres lineup, Rhys Hoskins, Steven Kwan and more extension candidates, Padres, Manny Machado agree to 11-year, $350M deal, 2022 MLB Mock Draft: O's take HS bat at No. Cincinnati has a lot of bonus pool money and could use that to help land a highly valued prospect like Cole Young in this spot. College World Series gets underway in Omaha, Nebraska, and it'll be a hot start. 13. Snelling has one of the best curveballs in the draft and can reach the upper-90s with his fastball. He has No. The Phillies have gone back-to-back with prep arms in the first round in the past two years with Mick Abel and Andrew Painter. He has always had better control than command, and while hes shown incredible competitiveness in some games like the no-hitter he threw in 2019, when he was pushed to 131 pitches hes also had outings where he seemed to struggle to adjust mid-game. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: No. 14. The fit: Like the rest of these teams, the Red Sox are in contention for a playoff spot and could use Rocker in the bullpen. We'll have one final mock draft in two weeks, in the days leading up to the draft. If he's not the No. (CBS Sports top 30 rank: No. The media circus surrounding his negotiations with the Mets only heightened his profile. The next batch of future stars will hear their names called beginning on Sunday, July 17. McDaniel said the most similar case he could remember was Barret Loux, drafted sixth overall out of Texas A&M in 2010. Rocker made five starts for the ValleyCats, totaling 20 innings. Guardians Dylan Lesko, RHP, Buford High (Buford, Ga.). Cardinals Cooper Hjerpe, LHP, Oregon State. "The total number of examples that are similaris like a single digit number;there's still not that many," McDaniel said. That all said, confidence in this mock pick is low even with the draft only days away. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. In TSN's mock draft, they're taking Campbell shortstop Zach Neto, who has one of the best hit tools in the collegiate class and should stick either at shortstop or second base in the future. So, if the Red Sox feel like gambling with their late-first-round pick, Rocker might make sense considering the amount of research they've already done on him. The 2022 MLB Mock Draft features stars such as Spencer Jones, Nate Savino, Bryce Osmond, Connor Prielipp, Hunter Barco and many more. 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