Potential Brent Rooker Trade...Again
Casual fans may not have known the name Brent Rooker before his breakout 2023 season with Oakland. He had played just under 200 games across three seasons for three different teams.
Drafted 35th overall by the Minnesota Twins in 2017, Rooker always possessed elite power, but his high strikeout rate limited his opportunities.
Unable to secure regular playing time with the Twins, Rooker was traded to the Padres. A few months later, he was sent to Kansas City in exchange for a depth catcher.
Rooker’s stint with Kansas City lasted only a few months before he was placed on waivers and picked up by the Athletics. Although his swing-and-miss issues persist (32.4% K rate), his power has remained a standout feature. It seems all Rooker needed was consistent playing time to showcase his value.
After hitting 30 home runs in 2023 (127 wRC+), Rooker has continued his power surge this season, with 11 home runs and a 163 wRC+ through 43 games.
If the struggling Athletics get only one All-Star slot this year, it might go to flamethrowing sensation Mason Miller, who MLB would likely want at the Midsummer Classic. However, given his impressive numbers, Rooker might earn his way to Texas purely on merit as one of the top hitters in the American League.
This post by Clay Snowden appeared first on Just Baseball.
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