Joseph
Rock

2021 MLB Draft: Rock is young for his class, turning 21 about two weeks after the draft despite being a third-year player. He made 16 appearances (11 starts) as a freshman and struck out 41 while walking 37 in 59 innings. After red-shirting in 2020, he emerged as the Bobcats' ace this year, going 8-3 with a 2.33 ERA, 117 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 88.2 innings. He is high-waisted with long levers at 6-foot-6, 220 pounds and pitches with a well-balanced, tall-and-fall delivery. There is some deception, which with his lower arm slot, makes for an uncomfortable at-bat. He can sit in the low 90s and hold that velo throughout a start. His slider ranges from 81-85 with sweep at times, and depth at others, flashing average. His changeup is a distant third pitchin the low 80s and he rarely goes to it. The arm action, delivery and limited feel for spin and changing speeds has him likely destined for a relief role.

Unfortunately, I likely saw the worst outing of the 2021 season for the 6-foot-6, 200-pound lefty. It was a far cry from his February 27 no-hitter against Morehead State. During this recent look Rock touched 92 mph in the first inning, then pitched at 89-90 for the remainder of his five inning, 104-pitch start. With a well-balanced tall/fall delivery and inverted arm action he had the look of a future pro reliever. His fastball was his primary weapon, spinning in the 2100-2412 rpm range with some sink and run to its finish. He mostly worked gloveside and was not able to establish much respect from right-handed hitters for fear of inner-half heat. Showing some depth to his 83-85 mph slider early in the game and flashing average at times, his breaker flattened as the game progressed, dropping in velo to 78-80 by the fourth inning. His low-80s change-of-pace was a distant third pitch in his repertoire and rarely used. With a below average delivery/arm action combo and limited feel for changing speeds and spin, Rock is likely destined to the pen at the next level where his lower arm slot makes for an uncomfortable at-bat for lefty hitters. Young for his class, Rock will still be 20 years old for the draft this summer and is a likely mid-round pick on Day Two.

Bouncing between the weekend rotation and midweek games, Rock logged 11 starts as a freshman (2-4, 5.19) and followed it up with an adequate stint on the Cape. Long and lean at 6-foot-6, 200 pounds, the lefty has made strides with his physicality since arriving on campus, and it’s paying dividends by drawing a deluge of scouting heat to Athens. After working in the 88-91 mph range as a freshman, he was pumping 93-95 mph gas this fall with above-average horizontal riding life. He’s shown a biting 83-85 mph slider that tunnels with his heater. Working from a somewhat lower arm slot, there’s funk and deception in the delivery. Young for his class, he’ll be just shy of his 21st birthday during the draft next summer, where he has day one upside.

Impressed with an 88-91 mph fastball and above average curveball. He also has some funk in his delivery which creates good deception. He was aggressive and attacked hitters, striking out four in three innings of work. (Seifert)

Rock is a 6-foot-4, 210-pound LHP/1B from Hopewell HS. Sat 84-86 touching 87. Fastball has considerable sink and run.  Consistently kept ball down using primarily outer half of plate.  Pitches from mid 3/4 arm slot.  Demonstrated clean mechanics and was able to repeat delivery. Arm is long and loose while pitching with minimal effort.