Unsigned first-round MLB pick Kumar Rocker shines in Independent League debut

Former Vanderbilt baseball pitcher Kumar Rocker got back on the mound Saturday after nearly a year away.

Rocker was selected 10th overall in the MLB Draft last year by the New York Mets after a three-year career at Vanderbilt in which he was an All-American, All-SEC and College World Series Most Outstanding Player, but he did not sign after he failed a physical. The exact medical issue that caused the deal to fall apart is still unknown.

Rocker, 22, signed with the Tri-City ValleyCats of Troy, New York, of the independent Frontier League to prepare for the 2022 MLB Draft in July, for which he is eligible.

According to Geoff Pontes of Baseball America, Rocker touched 99 mph against against the Trois-Riviéres Aigles, sitting in the high 90s out of the windup and the mid-90s out of the stretch. He also threw a pitch so hard it broke his catcher's glove.

Rocker pitched four innings, allowing a two-run home run with six strikeouts and no walks. He faced 16 batters, threw 60 pitches, with 43 for strikes.

“It was a long year, a lot of work put in," Rocker told the Associated Press. "I’m glad to see good results. I had a process. When I got the start date, it was attack, attack, attack — go out there and do my thing.”

Vanderbilt coach Tim Corbin was asked about Rocker following the Commodores' 21-1 win over New Mexico State in the Corvallis Regional.

"He should've been (back) on the mound a long time ago," Corbin said. "... All he did for our school was compete. And I'm just glad he's getting to play and get out there and refresh himself a little bit. He looks great."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Kumar Rocker makes first start with independent team