The New York Mets, spanning their extensive history, have been marred by numerous mistakes that transcended ownership changes, front office transitions, and coaching staff adjustments.
These errors, detrimental to the team’s sustained success, have taken various forms, from evident blunders like trading away icons such as Tom Seaver and David Cone to the pitfalls of signing players with incompatible personalities, as exemplified by Bobby Bonilla and Vince Coleman. More recent missteps include financial considerations, such as the failure to retain key players like Daniel Murphy and Zack Wheeler under Wilpon ownership.
In the context of professional sports organizations, errors are commonplace, but in New York, the passionate fanbase and extensive media coverage tend to magnify these misjudgments.
The arrival of Steve Cohen as the team’s owner brought hope that mistakes would be less glorified due to his willingness to invest in the team. However, it became evident that financial resources alone couldn’t negate poor decision-making by the front office. Since Cohen’s acquisition of the team in October 2020, the spotlight is on the Mets’ moves, scrutinizing their potential mistakes.
Number 10 on the list of errors during the Steve Cohen era is the decision to draft Kumar Rocker in the 1st round of the 2021 draft. Initially appearing as a steal, Rocker, a right-hander from Vanderbilt University and part of the heralded ‘Vandy Boys’ rotation, was chosen to bolster the Mets’ sparse pitching prospects.
Despite the financial resources available to Cohen, acting general manager Zack Scott failed to adequately assess Rocker’s health records. Subsequently, the Mets had to pass on signing Rocker due to reported arm issues, and the player eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in 2023.
This mistake is compounded by the stellar performances of players selected after Rocker, such as Andrew Painter and Colson Montgomery. While the Mets were compensated with two first-round picks in 2022, the 2021 draft missed out on acquiring standout talent.
