MLB Draft 2022: Kumar Rocker goes No. 3 to Texas in stunner

By Jordan Shusterman
FOX Sports activities MLB Author

LOS ANGELES — On a sunny Sunday afternoon, the 2022 MLB Draft commenced with its first 80 alternatives in entrance of an keen crowd thrilled to be in attendance for the second open-to-fans draft in baseball historical past. 

Right here have been the perfect — and most stunning — moments of the occasion: 

Kumar Rocker goes No. 3, OMG!

Let’s revisit what I wrote in my preview about Rocker, the Vanderbilt star-turned-independent leaguer, and the uncertainty surrounding his draft inventory: “My finest guess is that his agent, Scott Boras, secures him a signing bonus within the $2-3 million vary, and Rocker goes someplace in picks No. 20-40. However I really don’t have any clue.” 

Good factor I included that final sentence — as a result of none of us had any clue! 

Although some mocks did have Rocker going within the first spherical, any notion of him going within the first three alternatives would’ve been laughed in any respect the way in which up till Commissioner Rob Manfred referred to as Rocker’s title.

Including to the curiosity of this choice — one which reunites Rocker within the Rangers org along with his Vanderbilt rotation mate Jack Leiter — is that Texas would not have one other decide till the fourth spherical after forfeiting its second- and third-round alternatives after signing big-ticket free brokers Marcus Semien and Corey Seager. 

It seems the Rangers will avoid wasting cash with the Rocker choice, so who they choose with decide No. 109 shall be one of many greatest storylines of Day 2. 

Extra importantly, Rocker finally did get to listen to his title referred to as close to the very high of the draft simply as he probably anticipated a yr in the past. I would say he is in all probability fairly glad with how this performed out, as unusual of a journey because it was. 

Cubs take Cade Horton Goes at No. 7 

Be aware to pitchers who’re struggling by means of the primary few months of the faculty season: It is OK, you possibly can nonetheless go seventh total! All it’s a must to do is go on one of the epic postseason runs possible and dominate each outing in entrance of big crowds of scouts. 

Certainly, the right-hander from Oklahoma — who had a 7.94 ERA on April 21 — turned the primary pitcher chosen on this yr’s draft and went larger than even his greatest followers thought doable heading into the night time. 

His story shall be held up for years to come back as the final word beneficiary of the draft being held a lot later than it was. 

The Cubs received a great one. 

Assured high-school prospects 

It has been actually enjoyable to see a few of the high prospects attend the draft in particular person, and some of this yr’s attendees gave the viewers a few of the finest quotes of the night time after being chosen. 

When requested what the Pirates have been getting by deciding on him fourth total, Termarr Johnson stated “the perfect participant within the draft.”

After Brandon Barriera was chosen twenty third total by Toronto, he made positive the groups that handed over him knew what he considered that call. 

Braves decide J.R. Ritchie insisted “Nobody’s going to outwork me. I will deliver one other title again to Atlanta.” 

Lastly, Marlins’ second-round decide Jacob Miller was very happy to be picked up by a crew in a metropolis like Miami: 

These are some assured youngsters. It ought to serve them effectively in professional ball. 

The Rays did a Rays factor 

Go away it to the Rays to present us probably the most surprising first-rounder of the night. They used decide No. 29 on Xavier Isaac, a highschool first baseman from North Carolina with big uncooked energy however extraordinarily restricted observe report in opposition to top-tier competitors. 

Isaac missed all the summer season showcase circuit final yr as a result of a damaged foot, so groups had a lot much less to go on than a few of his fellow highschool hitter friends, and thus he was projected within the third- to fifth-round vary. 

Nonetheless, Tampa Bay clearly believed sufficient to take him within the first spherical and signal him for probably underslot, permitting the Rays to scoop up some extra thrilling faculty gamers afterward within the draft: athletic outfielders Brock Jones (Stanford) and Ryan Cermak (Illinois State), as effectively is tremendous speedster Chandler Simpson from Georgia Tech. 

It was a wierd sequence of picks, however hey, it is the Rays – ought to we actually be doubting them?

Highschool right-handers? No drawback for the Braves! 

There was loads of intrigue surrounding what the Braves’ draft technique could be after they acquired the thirty fifth total decide (groups can commerce aggressive stability picks) from Kansas Metropolis in a commerce final week. 

That further decide additionally got here with extra bonus pool cash, main observers across the league to surprise what sorts of gamers Atlanta would goal with their 4 alternatives on Day 1. 

With decide No. 20, the Braves chosen Owen Murphy, an athletic pitcher from the Chicago space who can be a official prospect as a hitter however made big strides on the mound this spring. 

Subsequent, at No. 35, was J.R. Ritchie, who was in attendance in L.A. and was clearly ecstatic to be chosen by the defending champions. 

The true shock got here at decide No. 57, the place the Braves tripled down on what is taken into account to be the riskiest demographic within the draft — high-school right-handers. They took Cole Phillips, a hard-throwing pitcher from Texas who had Tommy John surgical procedure in April however was thought-about the kind of expertise that might go within the first two rounds. 

They rounded out the night time with Auburn right-hander Blake Burkhalter at No. 76, which helped to stability out the category a bit. Burkhalter was top-of-the-line relievers in faculty baseball this season and is a reasonably protected wager to succeed in the big-leagues rapidly. 

That is loads of eggs in a traditionally shaky basket, however that is the crew that took Ian Anderson third total in 2016, so we will not be all that shocked … and that has labored out pretty effectively.

Brock Porter goes to high school? Or is he? 

Talking of highschool right-handers, what on the earth occurred with Brock Porter? The large righty got here into the draft within the higher echelon of prep pitchers accessible and ended up not being chosen on the primary day. 

Although he was thought to have a significantly excessive asking value to signal him away from his dedication to Clemson, Porter was nonetheless projected by almost each outlet to go someplace between picks 8-15 or so as a result of his expertise gave the impression to be effectively definitely worth the potential signing bonus. 

As a substitute, he stays on the board as one of the intriguing Day 2 picks, although it should require a crew to commit a large quantity of their bonus pool and thus dramatically shift their technique for the rest of the draft. 

Porter simply is perhaps value it, however it’s wanting more likely that we’ll see him subsequent spring at Clemson as one of many extra thrilling arms in faculty baseball. 

Jordan Shusterman is half of @CespedesBBQ and a baseball author for FOX Sports activities. He lives in D.C. however is a big Seattle Mariners fan and loves watching the KBO, which suggests he would not get loads of sleep. You may comply with him on Twitter @j_shusterman_.

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