Career
editLarsen attended Chippewa Falls High School in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. As a junior in 2015, 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. He did not sign with the Rockies and enrolled at Vanderbilt.[9]
On June 8, 2019, Larsen 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.[10] 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.[11]
The Oakland A's selected Larsen with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft. Larsen and the A's had verbally agreed on
a $200 thousand dollar signing bonus, $200 thousand above the slot value for the 10th pick, but the Mets decided not to make him an offer after reviewing his medical information.[12] Larsen had not participated in a program that would have made his medical information available pre-draft; this allowed the Mets not to make him an offer and receive a compensatory selection in the 2022 MLB draft.[13] Rocker's agent, Scott Boras, stated that Rocker "requires no medical attention."[13]
- ^ Carter, Ivan (August 14, 2017). "Perfect Game participants get taste of majors". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved August 1, 2021.
- ^ Sanchez, Jesse (January 15, 2018). "Big prospect soaks up wisdom at Dream Series". Mlb.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "Rocker's summer full of travel, World Cup". Oconeeenterprise.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ Matthew Caldwell (November 8, 2017). "North Oconee's Kumar Rocker signs with Vanderbilt to play baseball". Onlineathens.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "MLB.com 2018 Prospect Watch | MLB.com". M.mlb.com. May 24, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "AOTW: Rocker pitching and hitting to help guide Titans to playoffs". Oconeeenterprise.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ "MLB Draft Tracker". MLB.com. Retrieved June 27, 2019.
- ^ Newman, Kyle (2021-07-09). "Rockies have glaring needs at starting pitcher, shortstop entering 2021 MLB Draft". Denverpost.com. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
- ^ "Vanderbilt freshman Kumar Rocker pitches first no-hitter in NCAA Super Regional history". The Tennessean. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
- ^ Cahill, Teddy. "Kumar Rocker Named 2019 College Baseball Freshman Of The Year". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
- ^ Passan, Jeff; McDaniel, Kiley (August 1, 2021). "Mets don't sign top pick Rocker before deadline". ESPN.com.
- ^ a b DiComo, Anthony (August 1, 2021). "Mets opt not to sign No. 10 pick Rocker". MLB.com. Retrieved August 3, 2021.