During the 2021 MLB Draft, New York Mets fans were bursting with excitement over who the team had selected. With the 10th overall pick, they selected pitcher Kumar Rocker out of Vanderbilt. Rocker was part of Vanderbilt's star pitching staff, highlighted by Jack Leiter, and was the sixth overall prospect in the draft, according to MLB Pipeline. It had appeared the Mets had gotten a future ace.
However, the dream of Rocker one day becoming the ace of the Mets quickly vanished once contract negotiations began. A soap opera unfolded with the two sides fighting over medicals, something Mets fans have become accustomed to.