| Brent Rooker | |
|---|---|
 Rooker with theEl Paso Chihuahuas in 2022 | |
| Athletics – No. 25 | |
| Designated hitter /Outfielder | |
| Born: (1994-11-01)November 1, 1994 (age 31) Germantown, Tennessee, U.S. | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 4, 2020, for the Minnesota Twins | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Batting average | .259 |
| Home runs | 109 |
| Runs batted in | 293 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Terry Brent Rooker Jr. (born November 1, 1994) is an American professionalbaseballdesignated hitter andoutfielder for theAthletics ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for theMinnesota Twins,San Diego Padres, andKansas City Royals. He made his MLB debut in 2020. Rooker was selected to the2023 MLB All-Star Game and won theAmerican LeagueSilver Slugger Award at designated hitter in 2024. He was again named an All-Star in 2025.
Terry Brent Rooker Jr. was born on November 1, 1994, inGermantown, Tennessee. Rooker attendedEvangelical Christian School inMemphis, Tennessee.
Rooker enrolled atMississippi State University to playcollege baseball for theMississippi State Bulldogs. Rookerredshirted for the2014 season. He played in 34 games in2015, hitting .257/.325/.378 with twohome runs and 12runs batted in (RBIs). In2016, he helped lead the Bulldogs to anSoutheastern Conference (SEC) championship, hitting .324/.376/.578 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. In 2016, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theBrewster Whitecaps of theCape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star.[1]
In2017, Rooker was namedCollegiate Baseball national Player of the Year[2] andSEC Player of the Year after leading the conference with a .387 batting average, 23 home runs, and 82 RBIs, winning only the second triple crown in SEC history, along with a .495 on base percentage, .810 slugging percentage, 30 doubles, and 18 stolen bases.[3] He also won theC Spire Ferriss Trophy, given to Mississippi's top college baseball player.[4][5]
TheMinnesota Twins selected Rooker with the 35th overall selection of the2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He signed with the Twins for a $1.935 millionsigning bonus.[6] Rooker was assigned to theElizabethton Twins and was later promoted to theFort Myers Miracle. In 62 games between both clubs, he batted .281/.364/.566 with 18 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .930 OPS.[7]
Rooker spent 2018 with theChattanooga Lookouts. He batted .254/.333/.465 with 22 home runs (2nd in theSouthern League), 79 RBIs (leading the league), 32 doubles (tied for the league lead), and 150 strikeouts (4th) in 130 games.[7] He spent 2019 with theRochester Red Wings,[8] earningInternational League All-Star honors.[9] Over 65 games, he hit .281/.398/.535 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs.[5]
On September 4, 2020, Rooker was promoted to the major leagues for the first time[10] and made his major league debut that day against theDetroit Tigers.[11]
On April 7, 2022, the Twins traded Rooker,Taylor Rogers, and cash considerations to theSan Diego Padres in exchange forChris Paddack,Emilio Pagán, and aplayer to be named later (Brayan Medina).[12]
On August 2, 2022, the Padres traded Rooker to theKansas City Royals in exchange forCam Gallagher.[13] In 14 games for Kansas City, he batted .160/.276/.200 with 2 RBI. On November 15, Rooker wasdesignated for assignment by the Royals.[14]
On November 17, 2022, Rooker was claimed off outright waivers by theOakland Athletics.[15] He earned a spot on the team out of spring training. On May 1, 2023, Rooker was named the AL Player of the Week after going 10 for 24 with 5 home runs and 11 RBIs from April 24 through 30.[16] In July, Rooker was named to the2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a reserve.[17] He was the team's sole representative.[18] Entering the game as a replacement toRandy Arozarena and playing left field, Rooker went 1–2 with a double.[19]
He led the A's in home runs (30), RBIs (69), OPS (.817), games played (137), at-bats (463), total bases (226) and strikeouts (172).[20] He tied withEsteury Ruiz for the team-lead in hits (114). He led the American League in strikeout percentage (32.7%), while batting .246/.329/.488.[21]
Rooker began the 2024 season as the team's clean-up hitter onOpening Day. After hitting only .200 with two home runs and 16 strikeouts in his first eight appearances, Rooker was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 11, retroactive to April 8.[22] On May 6, Rooker was named the American League Player of the Week for April 29 to May 5.[23] In 145 games for the Athletics in 2024, he slashed .293/.365/.562 with 39 home runs, 112 RBI, and 11 stolen bases.[24] On October 4, Rooker underwent extensor repair surgery in his right forearm.[25]
On January 7, 2025, Rooker signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension to remain with the Athletics.[26]
Rooker was named to theUnited States national baseball team for the2019 WBSC Premier 12.[27] In the tournament he batted .300/.333/.800 with three home runs and five RBIs in 20 at bats.[28] He was named to the tournamentAll-World Team as the best designated hitter.[29][30]