The Texas Rangers have selected Kumar Rocker, righthanded pitcher, with the #3 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft.
This is a pretty big shock. The Rangers had been consistently linked with Elijah Green and Kevin Parada at #3, and while the Rangers reportedly really liked Rocker last year, when they were picking #2, I saw no one even hint that Texas might take him this year at #3.
Rocker, 22, was paired with Jack Leiter, the Rangers first pick in 2021, at Vanderbilt in 2020 and 2021. Rocker was selected 10th overall in the 2021 draft by the New York Mets, but didn’t sign with the Mets after they pulled their bonus offer due to concerns about his arm.