Kumar Rocker leads preseason No. 1 Vanderbilt baseball in bid for repeat national title

How could Kumar Rocker possibly make the sequel as good as the original?

As a fire-balling freshman pitcher, Rocker tossed the first no-hitter in NCAA Super Regional history and led Vanderbilt baseball to a national championship as the College World Series MVP.

He drew comparisons to former Vanderbilt great David Price. His fastball touched 100 miles per hour. And he displayed a devastating slider-curveball combination — a “slurve” — that helped push his name toward the top of future MLB Draft boards.

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Of course, Rocker is just a sophomore now and ineligible for the draft until 2021. So, congratulations college baseball, you get two more seasons of Rocker.

But what could he possibly do now that he hasn’t done already?

“I’m not going to lie. This offseason seemed harder than a year ago because I haven’t had those seniors to follow,” Rocker said. “Now I have to step into that bigger leadership role, and that takes work. So my work ethic has gotten more mature.”

Enough talent returns for No. 1 preseason ranking

Rocker’s return helps keep Vanderbilt in the 2020 national championship picture. Despite losing most of their lineup and two weekend starters, the Commodores should have enough elite pitching to contend for the title.

They'll start the season ranked No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports preseason coaches poll for the second time in school history.

Rocker, a right-hander, went 10-1 in his last 11 starts last season, and he was almost unhittable in the postseason. But right-hander Mason Hickman touted the team’s best pitching numbers as a midweek starter, reeling off a 9-0 record and 2.05 ERA. Tyler Brown returns as one of college baseball’s best closers after notching a school-record 17 saves.

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And another crop of Vanderbilt pitchers will slide into bigger roles. That includes highly touted freshman right-hander Jack Leiter, son of former MLB All-Star pitcher Al Leiter.

Vanderbilt led the nation with 100 home runs last season. But only three of the team’s nine everyday hitters are back. Junior Austin Martin, a projected top-10 pick, is the defending SEC batting champion (.392).

Martin’s position is uncertain, either third base, shortstop or center field. And numerous spots likely will be up for grabs until SEC play, when Vanderbilt hopes to hit another gear toward the postseason.

Rocker, however, should be the closest to a sure thing in college baseball. He has worked to add more stamina to his powerful 6-foot-4, 255-pound frame. And he knows the spotlight will be even brighter after his memorable freshman season.

Rocker said, “I’ve always been self-motivated. I was brought up that way.”

His father, Tracy Rocker, is a College Football Hall of Famer as a former Auburn star, and he’s currently the defensive line coach at Tennessee.

“You’d better be self-motivated to play this game at a high level, to keep getting better and to make it to the next level,” the younger Rocker said. “Or else, this game will catch up to you.”

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.