Rook the Casbah
Brent Rooker (OAK): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 5 RBI.
Rooker is not a household name unless your household is really into the 2019 Minnesota Twins top prospects. It’s fun to showcase someone many may not know, so let’s look into who Rooker is and how he got on the Oakland A’s.
Rooker was a first-round draft pick by the Twins in 2017 out of Mississippi State University. Viewed as a solid, power-hitting prospect, he made his major league debut in 2020 but never gained a full-time gig in Minneapolis for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. He found himself mostly playing in Triple-A St. Paul during those years.
At the start of the 2022 season, The Twins traded Rooker, Taylor Rogers, and cash, to the San Diego Padres for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagán, and a PTBNL. Rooker spent much of 2022 in Triple-A El Paso where he hit 28 home runs and slashed .289/.395/.649. The Padres called him up for two games but then decided to trade him to the Kansas City Royals for Cam Gallagher. Rooker played 14 games with the Royals before they waived him and the A’s selected him off waivers. Rooker has always hit the ball hard and put up strong home-run numbers; he’s just never been able to do it at the Major League level.
Thursday he crushed two home runs, both at 105 mph off the bat, and drove in 5 runs. Over his last 7 games, he’s been on a heater, slashing .333/.375/.762, and has one more home run to go with today’s two. Rooker has some Joey Meneses in him in that he has always hit for power in the minors but maybe has never been given the proper chance in the majors. In fact, when you look at his minor-league numbers, none of them are bad.
The A’s have nothing to play for in 2023. Their off-season trades were all questionable and they entered with easily the worst roster in baseball. Rooker is most likely going to finally get a fair shake in the majors. Let’s see if he can do anything with it. His performance Thursday proved he may be worth a roster spot.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Thursday
Michael A. Taylor (MIN): 2-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI.
Michael A. Taylor and the Minnesota Twins came into Yankees Stadium and ambushed young Johny Brito. They scored 9 runs in the first, including a two-run home run from Taylor. Later in the top of the 3rd, Taylor hit another two-run shot. Known more for his glove, this may be the only time Taylor’s name shows on a Batter’s Box. We know who he is and that is a fantastic centerfielder but not the best at the plate. A performance like this will surely put a smile on his face,, and I’d wager he’s grinning as he falls asleep tonight. Bravo.
Adley Rutschman (BAL): 1-5, HR, R, RBI.
Adley Rutschman was on his way to having one of his weaker games of the year Thursday until he hit a solo walk-off shot in the ninth to squeak by the A’s. Watching this kid blossom into a star is going to be fun. It feels like the only question is how high his ceiling is.
Anthony Rizzo (NYY): 3-4, 2 HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
The only offense in the Bronx tonight, Anthony Rizzo hit two solo home runs Thursday in a lopsided affair against the Twins. Always the heartbeat of the Yankees offense, he showed this Thursday. Rizzo is off to a usual start slashing .326/.423/.581. He is a major part of the Yankees’ race for their first championship since 2009. Health was an issue last year, so to here’s hoping it isn’t this year.
Rowdy Tellez (MIL): 2-3, HR, R, 3 RBI, BB.
Ryan John Tellez (Rowdy is way better) was a major part of the Brewers’ win over the San Diego Padres in the evening game Thursday, driving in 3 runs including a two-run home run. The Brewers are always going to compete with the rotation they have, although Brandon Woodruff did just go down with a shoulder injury. Tellez has been slow to start the 2023 season, but this man hit 35 home runs last year. When he gets hot, expect the ball to leave the yard in bunches.
Carlos Correa (MIN): 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
Carlos Correa was a part of the Johny Brito ambush in the first inning going back-to-back-to-back with Michael A. Taylor and rookie Edouard Julien. We’ve seen a bit of a slow start from Correa to start the year, but the 200 million-dollar man will surely be fine. The Twins look pretty dangerous in the early going. They also have reinforcements on the way in Jorge Polanco, Royce Lewis, Alex Krilloff, and Edouard Julien (who I’m going to talk about). AL Central champs?
Harold Ramírez (TB): 3-4, 2 2B, R, 3 RBI.
Harold Ramírez and the Tampa Bay Rays are going to go 162-0 and I don’t want anyone bringing negative energy saying otherwise. Ramirez was in the middle of it all on Thursday, knocking in 3 while hitting 2 doubles along the way. Each night it seems to be a different guy for the Rays (except maybe the guy below Ramirez, he’s been hot)−tonight it was Ramirez’s turn.
Brandon Lowe (TB): 2-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI.
As stated above, Brandon Lowe has been hot to the touch. To start the year he has already hit 5 home runs and is slashing a ridiculous .333/.463/.818. Seeing this has been just the best after Lowe lost the majority of the 2022 season to injury. He hit 39 home runs in 2021, so we know what he can do with a full, healthy season. The Rays are going to win 162 games and a main piece to reach this unattainable accomplishment is Lowe.
Esteury Ruiz (OAK): 3-4, 2B, 2 R, 2 RBI.
Esteury Ruiz gained a lot of notice last year because his minor league season was one for the ages. When a player steals 85 bases in a season, it’s going to turn some heads. Thursday, Ruiz got on base three times, scored 2 runs, and drove in 2. Ruiz was a part of two trades in 2022. He was in the Hader deal sending him from San Diego to Milwaukee. Then to Oakland in the 3-team blockbuster trade centered around Sean Murphy. Being an A, like Rooker, there isn’t much to play for in 2023. Ruiz is showing that so far in the season, he has the ability to get on base. It would be so A’s if Ruiz and Rooker became good.
Edouard Julien (MIN): 2-5, HR, 2 R, RBI.
The rookie, Edouard Julien collected his first Major League hit Thursday and hit his first home run as a part of the back to back to back attack with the aforementioned Michael A. Taylor and Carlos Correa. Julien is a highly regarded prospect out of the Twins organization that I feel like I’ve talked about a lot in this. In 2022 his OBP in Triple-A was .441, which is absolutely insane. He brings a power-speed combo and is capable of hitting 20 home runs and stealing 20 bags. He was batting leadoff in this game, so it feels like the Twins are throwing him into the fire.