Joe Rock

Rock struggled to a 5.19 ERA over 11 starts and 59 innings during his freshman season at Ohio in 2019, but wowed scouts with his pure stuff last summer and fall. This spring he has delivered on those flashes and posted a 2.33 ERA through 14 starts and 88.2 innings, with 117 strikeouts (11.9 K/9) and 27 walks (2.7 BB/9) in the Mid-American Conference. Now he has a chance to become the highest-drafted Ohio pitcher. Rock is an uncomfortable at-bat thanks to his 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame, long levers and low three-quarters arm slot. His fastball sits in the low-90s and has been up to 96 mph this spring and features significant horizontal running action that should help him avoid barrels. His slider is the best pitch in his arsenal, a sweeping breaking ball in the low 80s that gets above-average or plus grades and could be effective against both righties and lefties given his attack angle. Rock also throws a changeup in the low-to-mid 80s that flashes solid diving life, but he has limited feel for the pitch and heavily relies on his fastball/slider combo to get through lineups. Rock still has some projection given the amount of room he has to add weight and strength to his lean frame and could also use his legs more efficiently in his delivery. He has a long, hooking arm action and his strikes are fringy despite a solid walk rate, which makes some teams wonder if he’s better suited for the bullpen.