Could Kumar Rocker be drafted before Boston Red Sox select at No. 4? Is his stock rising again ahead of Sunday?
The Athletics Keith Laws has Vanderbilt righty Kumar Rocker projected to go No. 2 overall to the Texas Rangers in his 2021 MLB mock draft 3.0 (published July 9). Rocker has dropped in most mock drafts. Fangraphs Eric Longenhagen and Kevin Goldstein, for example, have Rocker projected to go No. 7 to the Kansas City Royals. MLB.com has him ranked the No. 7 prospect. MLB.coms Jonathan Mayo projected Rocker going seventh overall to the Royals in his latest mock draft (June 30). Law has Eastlake High (Calif.) shortstop Marcelo Mayer projected to go No. 1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Rocker No. 2 to the Rangers, Vanderbilt righty Jack Leiter No. 3 to the Detroit Tigers and Louisville catcher Henry Davis No. 4 to the Boston Red Sox. Law wrote, I think the pendulum on Rocker may have swung too far the other way. He was never the slam dunk 1-1 guy some people assumed he was after his freshman year, but he has few equals in this draft for size, stuff, and athleticism.  Law reported that if the Rangers dont draft Rocker, the rightys potential landing spots probably are No. 4 to the Red Sox, No. 7 the Royals and then 10/11 as a floor.  The New York Mets own the No. 10 pick and the Nationals have the No. 11 pick. Command issues have been the reason Rocker had dropped in most mock drafts. As Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) wrote on Twitter, Seems to be some Rocker rumors percolating. He makes the list of exciting guys, but there are a lot of questions to be answered. College kids chased his breaking ball out of the zone often but will pros?  Law mentioned there were also command questions with Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole before they were drafted. Rocker was the losing pitcher in the decisive game of the College World Series against Mississippi State. He allowed five runs, six hits and two walks in 4  innings. He was on short rest. The righty went 14-4 with a 2.73 ERA and .170 batting average in 20 starts in 2021. He struck out 179 and walked 39 in 122 innings. Davis batted .370 with a .482 slugging percentage, .663 slugging percentage, 15 homers, nine doubles, 45 runs, 48 RBIs and 10 steals in 50 games (184 at-bats) for the Cardinals this year. He had more walks (31) than strikeouts (24). The Athletics Peter Gammons tweeted Friday that clubs drafting after the top four believe Mayer likely will go No. 1, Leiter No. 2, high school pitcher Jackson Jobe No. 3 and Davis No. 4. Latest mocks have Louisville catcher at No. 4  Rafael Devers turns down Home Run Derby invite: Red Sox slugger feels like hes not a home run hitter in B.P.  Boston Red Sox vs. Philadelphia Phillies preview: TV schedule, pitching probables, key stories, how to watch (July 9-11)