How Rooker went from journeyman to All-Star

Following the final spring exhibition game on March 27 between the A’s and Giants, Brent Rookerwas summoned to manager Mark Kotsay’s office inside the visiting clubhouse at Oracle Park.

It was the day the A’s had to finalize their 2023 Opening Day roster. Rooker had not yet been notified of his roster status. He knew this meeting would determine his immediate fate. It’s the same meeting he sat down for with the Padres in 2022 and Twins in 2021. Both times, Rooker learned he was the odd man out.

Given previous outcomes, Rooker had a suspicion he was about to be optioned to Triple-A. He was prepared to gracefully accept the undesirable news and vow to continue working hard in the Minors. Instead, Kotsay proved Rooker’s premonition wrong.

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“It was emotional for him,” Kotsay said of Rooker’s reaction. “To see where he’s at now, you look back at that decision and feel good about it. I’m thankful we made that decision to keep him on the roster.”

It was a pleasant surprise for Rooker. But really, the two sides felt like a perfect match.

The A’s had long been intrigued by Rooker’s potential dating back to his college days at Mississippi State, where he joined Rafael Palmeiro as only the second player in SEC history to ever win the triple crown. They quickly jumped at the opportunity to claim him off waivers on Nov. 17, 2022, just two days after he was designated for assignment by the Royals.

Rooker was excited about the opportunities that were available on an Oakland club low on established Major League players as it entered the second year of a rebuild.

All Rooker wanted was an extended look at the big league level, something that eluded him in his time with the Twins, Padres and Royals from 2020-22. About a week into the regular season, Seth Brown’s oblique injury cleared a path toward that objective.

This was the moment he was waiting for. If you are wondering how Rooker finds himself heading to the 2023 All-Star Game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park to play alongside baseball’s elite players, look no further than the opportunity he grabbed and turned into one of the most dominant six-week stretches you will see from a player all year.

From April 8-30, Rooker topped MLB’s leaderboards in most categories. He led the Majors in OPS (1.375), on-base percentage (.506), Offensive Runs Above Average (15.2), fWAR (1.6) and wRC+ (267). His nine home runs for the month were most by an A’s player in April since Khris Davis hit 10 in 2017, just two away from Mark McGwire’s franchise record of 11 in 1997.

“It seemed like he was doing something great every day,” A’s hitting coach Tommy Everidge said. “You talk about these guys who are able to sometimes carry teams. He put us on his back. It showed the tremendous potential that is there and is going to continue to come out. He can take over a game.”

Even Rooker himself could not believe the stats he was piling up at times throughout the scorching stretch.

“In a vacuum, the numbers themselves are more than I ever thought I could do,” Rooker said in April. “That’s not taking away the confidence I have. That kind of production for a month’s worth of games is probably past even my expectations.”

Batting .295 with a 1.012 OPS through May 17, Rooker has cooled off since, with spurts of that version of the slugger showing up intermittently. It is no different from the typical ups and downs that even the game’s elite hitters go through. What Rooker displayed in that hot streak, though, was enough for the A’s to believe this is more than just a short feel-good story.

“Everything he’s done so far is not a fluke,” Everidge said. “There’s still more to come. He’s had a little lull, but you’re seeing him come out of it and starting to really believe in himself even more.”

While the pop in Rooker’s bat rightfully earned him a trip to his first Midsummer Classic, he should also be recognized. Despite all the accolades accrued throughout college and Minor League ball, he was denied a true Major League opportunity with his first three organizations.

Rooker finally received that opportunity from the A’s, and it appears to be the only one that he really needed.

“I’ve had plenty of self-doubt throughout my career,” Rooker said. “At the same time, I’ve always believed that I can come to this level and be a guy who can stay for a long time. … To achieve something I never really considered possible, it’s a cool feeling.”