Athletics’ outfielder Brent Rooker has been scorching the diamond lately. He snagged the AL player of the week accolade from MLB for his impressive performance between April 29 and May 5. Rooker boasted a .438 batting average, smacked 3 homers, racked up 7 RBI, and sported an outstanding 1.613 OPS during this span.
The highlight reel of his week was undoubtedly Saturday’s game against the Marlins, where he launched two homers in the third inning alone, a feat not seen from an Athletics hitter since Mark McGwire in 1996. Rooker’s momentum is undeniable, with his season stats now standing at .256/.348/.615, leading the team with 8 homers and 20 RBI, and ranking second in runs scored with 13, just behind Abraham Toro. He even managed to swipe a base.
Anticipation was high for Rooker after his debut All-Star appearance in 2023. Despite primarily serving as designated hitter and offering minimal defensive contributions, he’s stepping up to the plate, anchoring the Athletics’ offense, which was initially underestimated. Before Saturday’s explosive game, the team’s offensive performance was lackluster, to say the least.
While Saturday’s performance injected some optimism, the Athletics need Rooker to maintain his stellar form to salvage their offensive reputation for the rest of the 2024 season. Manager Mark Kotsay is making the best of the situation, but additional standout performances from Rooker, like earning more player of the week awards, could significantly propel the team in the right direction.
On another note, Rooker’s counterpart in the NL, former LA Angels’ superstar Shohei Ohtani, showcased his prowess with an incredible .524/.583/.952 slash line, including 3 homers and 7 RBI. Fortunately for the A’s, they’ll only have to face him twice a year now that he’s with the Dodgers, sparing them from facing him regularly within the division.