The Kumar Rocker story is a far bigger indictment of the entire system being somewhat broken... but also that teams really should be able to analyze all medicals well before the draft (in his case, he opted out of the MRI program), especially when it comes to pitchers; errr heavily used pitchers.
I agree prospects should be required to submit medicals as part of draft eligibility, but in the absence of that, any team that drafts a player without medicals knows the risk they are taking.
And the team shouldn't get much scorn/ridicule when they choose to walk away either. And in this case, with him not participating in the pre-MRI screen, they don't have to offer him a token contract to get a comp pick. I know they can't just grant the player FA and let them go to the highest bidder, or else all players will eventually try and game the system to steer where they want to go... but it also sucks that he has to re-enter the draft/delay his start to his domestic professional career after this turn of events.
Explain this pre-MRI program to me. Is it new? What does it do exactly compared to like standard medical evals for a prospect?
Its not new (I'm sure the Aiken fiasco helped bring it about), and its still voluntary... but teams can get out of paying anything if players don't participate and they don't like what they see on medicals after (and they still will get the extra pick the following year). Sounds like most players don't participate as they really don't have much to gain from it (except guaranteeing them a token offer if the team that drafts them doesn't like what they see). Rocker apparently had previous documented imaging studies and the Mets saw changes after his heavy heavy (heavy) work load this year they didn't like. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/...ew-voluntary-mri-program-for-draft-prospects/
That is the other side of the risk coin. Mets took a risk on a pitcher who did not participate in the MRI program. Rocker took a risk that the eventual MRI would not make a team walk away.
It’s a bad system all around. Either make the combine somewhat mandatory (and if a player still chooses to opt out, something really fishy is occurring). Also still partially protect the player that a team still chooses to draft. Ultimately somebody may draft and pay Rocker to start his rehab from whatever procedure/surgery required to make his arm whole… unlike Aiken, Rocker did showcase dominance at a higher level of competition.
This was a pretty weak draft for Houston. 5 players remain in the system: OF Joey Loperfido, MLB (7): looks like a solid bench player or fringe regular; if he sustains his recent reduction in k rate he could be a solid everyday platoon OF P Spencer Arrighetti, AAA (6): looks like a solid BoR SP with upside to be a MoR guy. Likely to be Houston's 6th SP this year. P Colton Gordon, AAA (8): looks like a solid depth/AAAA SP. OF Tyler Whitaker, AA (3): Currently on the Development list, he has tools galore but has had a very high k rate due to a hole in his swing; he has this season to fix that or otherwise will be released. P Nic Swanson, AA (16): Org depth, unlikely to reach the majors 4th rounder P Chayce McDermott was part of the Trey Mancini trade and is a depth pitcher for the Orioles. 11th rounder IF Chad Stevens latched on with the Angels and Rockies and has gotten a cup of coffee. 18th rounder IF Will Wagner was part of the Kikuchi trade and is a bench player for the Padres. Without the top 2 picks, it's hard to say anyone is a bust, but Whitaker received 2nd round money and represented the lone prospect in this class with a meaningful bonus; James Click bet heavy on him. There's still a chance for Loperfido or Arrighetti to make this a successful draft, but all in all the further this one gets in Houston's rear view mirror, the better off their farm will be.
I love to crap on Click but if there are two players from a draft that make a meaningful contribution to a playoff team, it’s a success especially if you don’t have your two first picks.
