Rocker, Mets agree to $6M bonus (source)
Acclaimed right-handed pitcher Kumar Rocker and the Mets have reached an agreement on a $6 million signing bonus, a source told MLB.com's Anthony DiComo on Monday. The agreement comes less than 24 hours after the Mets selected the Vanderbilt product with the No. 10 pick in the MLB Draft. The club has not confirmed the agreement.
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The $6 million bonus represents a huge chunk of the Mets’ bonus pool of about $9 million, and it's also well over the pick’s projected slot value of $4.7 million. News of the agreement was first reported by MLB Network insider Joel Sherman.
Rocker, a Golden Spikes Award finalist as the best amateur player in the country, had another standout season at Vanderbilt in 2021, two years after he was named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. He went 14-4 with a 2.73 ERA this year, striking out 179 batters in 122 innings. For his career, Rocker compiled 321 strikeouts and 68 walks with a 2.89 ERA across 236 2/3 innings with the Commodores.
Mets scouting director Marc Tramuta said drafting Rocker at No. 10 was “an obvious pick” after many mock drafts leading into Sunday forecast Rocker to be chosen before the Mets got on the clock.
“We really thought there was very little chance this would happen,” added vice president of amateur scouting Tommy Tanous.