Kumar Rocker

Kumar Rocker (born November 22, 1999) is an American college baseball pitcher for the Vanderbilt Commodores. He is from Watkinsville, Georgia.

Kumar Rocker
Vanderbilt Commodores – No. 80
Pitcher
Born: (1999-11-22) November 22, 1999
Montgomery, Alabama
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Career highlights and awards

Career

Rocker attended North Oconee High School in Bogart, Georgia. As a junior in 2017, he had a 1.63 earned run average (ERA) with 68 strikeouts in ​55 2⁄3 innings.[1] During the Summer 2017, he played in the Under Armour All-America Baseball Game and Perfect Game All-American Classic.[2] Later in the summer, he played for the USA Baseball 18U National Team.[3]

Rocker committed to Vanderbilt University to play college baseball.[4][5] He was considered one of the top prospects for the 2018 Major League Baseball draft,[6][7] but was not selected until the 38th round by the Colorado Rockies,[8] falling due to signability concerns. As a result, he enrolled at Vanderbilt in the Fall of 2018.

On June 8, 2019, Rocker became the first pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter in the Super Regional round during the 2019 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament. He recorded 19 strikeouts as Vanderbilt beat Duke 3–0.[9]

Rocker was named the 2019 College World Series Most Outstanding Player after Vanderbilt captured the 2019 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship on June 26, 2019. Rocker won both his starts in the College World Series and finished his freshman season with a 12-5 record. He was also named the 2019 Baseball America Freshman of the Year.[10]

Rocker is widely considered to be the likely first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft.[11]

Personal

His father, Tracy Rocker, played in the National Football League (NFL),[12] is a College Football Hall of Fame Winner[13] and is the defensive line coach at South Carolina.[10] His maternal grandparents immigrated to the United States from India. His parents met when his mother was a student at the University of Maryland and his father was playing for the Washington Redskins.[14] Was drafted in the 38th round by the Colorado Rockies.

References
  1. Perfect Game participants get taste of majors
  2. Sanchez, Jesse (January 15, 2018). "Big prospect soaks up wisdom at Dream Series". Mlb.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  3. "Rocker's summer full of travel, World Cup". Oconeeenterprise.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  4. Matthew Caldwell (November 8, 2017). "North Oconee's Kumar Rocker signs with Vanderbilt to play baseball". Onlineathens.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  5. "ALL-USA Watch: Top baseball prospect Kumar Rocker still weighing decision to go pro or go to Vanderbilt". Usatodayhss.com. May 1, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  6. "MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch | MLB.com". M.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  7. "AOTW: Rocker pitching and hitting to help guide Titans to playoffs". Oconeeenterprise.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  8. "MLB Draft Tracker". MLB.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  9. "Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker pitches first no-hitter in NCAA Super Regional history". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  10. Cahill, Teddy. "Kumar Rocker Named 2019 College Baseball Freshman Of The Year". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  11. "Already The 2021 MLB Draft Favorite, Kumar Rocker Readies For High Expectations". Baseball America. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  12. "Rocker officially signs with Vanderbilt". Oconeeenterprise.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
  13. Sparks, Adam. "Kumar Rocker leads preseason No. 1 Vanderbilt in bid for repeat title at College World Series". USA TODAY. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  14. Sparks, Adam (June 8, 2019). "Vanderbilt baseball: Why Kumar Rocker listened to mom, chose Commodores over big MLB payday". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
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