Rooker celebrates growing family with Players' Weekend bat, cleats
OAKLAND -- Brent Rooker is no stranger to the phenomenon known as Dad Strength.
The A's designated hitter experienced it for himself while playing for the Twins back on Sept. 17, 2021, when he homered in his first game back from the paternity list after the birth of his first daughter, Blair.
Rooker wasn't able to repeat the feat on Saturday, his first game after he and his wife, Allie, welcomed their second daughter, Blake.
"I was disappointed I couldn't do that yesterday," he said. "Hopefully the youngest isn't too mad at me for it."
But Rooker nonetheless found a way to honor his newest addition and his eldest alike on the field with a special bat and pair of cleats for Players' Weekend.
The custom piece of lumber has a pink handle and two tulips -- one for each of his daughters -- on the barrel. The initials Blair and Blake share, B.E.R., are also emblazoned on the bat and his pink cleats.
Rooker did not expect to be active for Players' Weekend because his wife's induction had been scheduled for Friday. He went ahead and ordered the bats anyway, thinking they would make a nice keepsake even if he wasn't able to play.
But Blake was born early, and Rooker returned to the A's in time for the custom bats to see game action.
While Rooker didn't get another infusion of Dad Strength in the traditional sense, that begs the question: Could his other tools be enhanced by the arrival of his new child? Rooker has some other attributes he wouldn't mind getting a boost.
"Dad Speed would be great," he said. "Dad Plate Discipline would be awesome. Dad Bat-to-Ball Skills would be fantastic. If I could get a little more of that, I would be appreciative, but we'll see."