Today, the two names that I think could contend for the #1 pick in the 2021 MLB Draft are Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter. These two are both starting pitchers and they are teammates at Vanderbilt. It’ll be very intriguing to see them battle it out in their junior and sophomore seasons, respectively. I’m going to breakdown both of these pitchers and from there, I’ll tell you who I think will be the #1 pick of next year’s MLB Draft. Without further ado, let’s get into this.
First of all, let’s breakdown Kumar Rocker. Like I said in the title, he has the coolest name in baseball history, in my opinion. Down in the comments, let me know if you think I’m right or wrong. Anyway, let’s breakdown this guy’s skills. The 6’4, 225 lbs right-hander out of Athens, Georgia has a lot to bring to the table. Let’s turn things over to his manager, Tim Corbin. “Low maintenance player … professional. He sees things for what they are. Self-motivated and driven. He has a very ‘teachable way’ about him where if he hears and sees something, he can apply it and adjust quickly. Plays the game for the sake of the team. His motivation is driven by the group and how he can best benefit the team moving forward. He has a mature presence about him, but still has the ability to bring fun to the environment … knows the line.” According to baseballamerica.com, he has a “powerful fastball” and a “hard slider” to go with it. He actually was drafted out of high school by the Colorado Rockies in the 38th round of the 2018 draft but, he decided to go to Vanderbilt. That decision was probably the best decision he’s ever made in his life. Vanderbilt is a self- proclaimed “PITCHING FACTORY” and has built a lot of careers in the pros. Some of the pitchers include Walker Buehler, Sonny Gray, Mike Minor, and David Price. As a freshman, he already cemented himself as one of the top pitchers in Vanderbilt. He was 10-1 with a 2.17 ERA and struck out 82 batters in 70.2 innings. Those are some eye-opening numbers, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg. He was clutch in the NCAA Tournament, going 4-0 with a breathtaking 0.96 ERA. He also was clutch in the College World Series, putting up a stat line of 2-0 with a 1.46 ERA. He didn’t allow more than two walks and threes runs or fewer in 18 of his 19 appearances. In addition to that, he struck out 19 batters on his way to Vanderbilt’s first no-hitter since 1971 against Duke. Finally, he set a Vanderbilt College World Series record, striking out 11 batters against Michigan. The list just goes on and on with how good Rocker is, and those numbers he put up was in his freshman year alone. In his shortened sophomore season, he was 2-1 with a 1.80 ERA and held his opponents to a .118 batting average. Those are some great numbers considering how short this season was. Now, you might not think that Leiter is as good as Rocker, but Leiter can go step-for-step with Rocker.
In the Leiter family, pitching is in their blood. His uncle, Mark, pitched in the Majors from 1990-2001. His cousin, Mark Jr., pitched in the pros from 2017-2018. However, the most famous Leiter pitcher was his father, Al. He was a two-time All-Star and a two-time World Champion. He pitched with the Yankees, Blue Jays, Marlins and the Mets. His career numbers are 160-130 with a 3.80 ERA and 1,974 strikeouts. So, Jack has always had pressure to be the heir to his family members, especially his father. However, he rises to the occasion when he’s called upon. The 6’0, 195 pitcher out of Summit, New Jersey got drafted by the Yankees out of high school in the 29th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, but he decided to go to Vanderbilt instead. Like I said about Rocker, that decision was the best decision he could make. In his shortened freshman season, he went 2-0 with 22 strikeouts and he held his opposing hitters to a .098 average. He has a fastball that hits 94 consistently on the radar gun and has a frisbee-like slider and a looping curveball that freezes hitters or makes them look silly trying to swing at it. Even his legendary manager Tim Corbin has high praise for him. “Jack’s maturity in all areas, on and off the field, is quite noticeable. He competes in everything that he does and the results on the mound and in the classroom are evident of that. He will have a chance to impact our staff this year. He possesses a power arm, he can pitch, field his position and understands the running game. Low maintenance player — just comes to work.”
Now, the moment you all have been waiting for, is Kumar Rocker or Jack Leiter the #1 pick of the 2021 MLB Draft? Personally, I think it’s very close but I would have to say that, for right now, Kumar Rocker is the #1 pick. It’s only because he’s played a lot of games and scouts are able to evaluate a lot more of them than Leiter, but Leiter shows a lot of promise at the #2 spot. Keep your eye out for these two flamethrowers because they can become bonafide stars in the pros.
Sources: vucommodores.com, baseballamerica.com, vandyboys.com, YouTube.com, perfectgame.org