Mets fail to sign first-round pick

The Mets failed to sign their top pick from last month’s amateur draft, Vanderbilt pitcher Kumar Rocker, by the 5 p.m., Aug. 1, deadline, over concern about his medical scans.

New York selected Rocker with the 10th overall pick and will receive an extra selection in next year’s amateur draft, the pick after the 10th choice, because of their failure to sign the 21-year-old right-hander.

The Mets lost the $4,739,900 slot value available for draft signings that was assigned to Rocker’s pick.

“This is clearly not the outcome we had hoped for and wish Kumar nothing but success moving forward,” Mets acting general manager Zack Scott said in a statement.

Rocker was a junior and is eligible to return to Vanderbilt for his senior season.

“Kumar Rocker is healthy according to independent medical review by multiple prominent baseball orthopedic surgeons,” his representative, Scott Boras, said in a statement. “Immediately upon conclusion of his collegiate season, he had an MRI on both his shoulder and his elbow. When compared with his 2018 MRIs, the medical experts found no significant change. Kumar requires no medical attention and will continue to pitch in the regular course as he prepares to begin his professional career.”

NHL

SHARKS’ KANE DENIES ALLEGATIONS >> Sharks forward Evander Kane denied allegations his wife made on social media that he bet on NHL games, including against his own team. Kane responded to allegations made the previous day from the Instagram account of his wife, Anna. “I have NEVER gambled/bet on Hockey, NEVER gambled/bet on a Sharks game, NEVER gambled/bet on any of my games and NEVER thrown a hockey game,” he wrote on Twitter.

Golf

SORENSTAM WINS >> Annika Sorenstam ran away with the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, closing with a 4-under 68 for an eight-stroke victory. The 50-year-old Sorenstam finished at 12-under 276 at Brooklawn Country Club in the wire-towire victory.