Vanderbilt right-hand pitcher Kumar Rucker. (guild: TN)
Kumar Ruker was once considered one of the MLB’s top favorites, but his mysterious injury history raised concerns about the bowler before Rangers drafted him.
It’s been a tough year for Kumar Ruker, who was once seen as the best prospect available in the 2021 MLB Draft.
He fell to the Mets #10 in last year’s draft due to uncertainty about his pace, and then the team that drafted him dropped due to something in the post-draft physical.
He’s back on the board at the 2022 MLB Draft where the Texas Rangers shocked everyone by making him third overall.
If the Rangers are willing to seize this opportunity, what concerns about injury have others raised?
Kumar Ruker injury history
The Mets have never revealed why they accepted the pick-up draft rather than trying to sign Rocker. The bowler skipped over the MLB Combine and the physics that would have come with it after showing speed issues during his final season at Vanderbilt. It seems that something was wrong, what is clear what it was.
Rucker had shoulder surgery in September, per MLB.com. Whatever he was struggling with seemed to be illustrated in appearances with the Tri-City ValleyCats of the Frontier League, he was able to throw 99 mph while maintaining a 1.35 ERA in 20 rounds.
There were questions before the draft about whether he would go in the first round. Obviously, the Rangers aren’t worried about his condition at all.
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