Rooker to join Wilson at All-Star Game after earning player vote

WEST SACRAMENTO -- Jacob Wilson will be accompanied by a teammate at the 2025 All-Star Game.

Ahead of Sunday night’s 6-2 loss to the Giants at Sutter Health Park, Brent Rooker learned that he was voted in by his peers around the league and will join Wilson, previously elected by the fans as the American League’s starting shortstop, at the July 15 All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta. This is Rooker’s second All-Star selection, having also appeared in the 2023 Midsummer Classic through the player ballot.

“Any time you get the opportunity, it’s humbling and exciting,” Rooker said. “I’m looking forward to getting back. When I was there in ‘23, the reality of who I was at the time, I didn’t think there was a chance I was ever going to get to go back. I thought it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. To be able to go back a second time is pretty cool.”

The A’s might not be in an ideal spot when it comes to the standings as we approach the break, but they remain optimistic about their future with a core they’ve identified as the group that will carry them back into playoff contention. Wilson and Rooker are key figures of that group, and they mark the first time A’s have had more than one All-Star in a season since 2021 (Chris Bassitt and Matt Olson).

“It speaks a lot to the progress that we’ve made,” Rooker said. “I think you’re going to see more [All-Stars] in the coming years. There’s a lot of guys in the clubhouse that have the talent to make this game multiple times.”

Rooker has lived up to the high expectations that came with his signing to a contract extension that guarantees him $60 million over the next five years with a vesting club option for 2030 that could raise that total to $82 million across six years. He is an established leader inside the A’s clubhouse. On the field, he is once again one of the more consistent power hitters in the game, entering play Sunday leading all primary AL DHs with 17 home runs and slashing .273/.348/.490 with 48 RBIs.

Perceived by many as an All-Star snub in a 2024 campaign that ended with him earning his first career Silver Slugger Award, Rooker is mastering the art of consistency at the plate. Through 91 games this season, only once has he gone more than two consecutive games without collecting a hit, and even that was only a three-game hitless stretch from May 14-16.

“It’s just the maturation of the professional hitter he’s become,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “His first year in ‘23 was a power year that started out rough in April. Then, to see him last year not only hit for power but fall just short of hitting .300, and this year, there are some dips, but not huge peaks and valleys. He’s just having as consistent of a year from a hitting standpoint as you could probably put together.”

One thing will make Rooker’s All-Star experience this time around different – his confidence. Two years ago, Rooker was going through his first season with the A’s, who claimed him off waivers from the Royals in November 2022. He was joining his fourth organization in three years after limited playing time with Minnesota, San Diego and Kansas City, and he even had his agent gauge interest from Japanese clubs just in case his time with the A’s did not work out.

“In 2023, I genuinely did not believe that I belonged there,” Rooker said. “At the time, I was like, ‘Well, this is cool. I kind of rode a hot first six weeks to get here, but I’m not good enough to have the opportunity to come back.’ I think the mindset of walking into that clubhouse knowing that I do belong there this year will make the experience a little bit different.”

Entering Sunday with 87 homers since the start of the 2023 season, ninth-most in the Majors over that stretch, Rooker also figures to be a candidate for the Home Run Derby. Before Sunday’s game, Rooker said he had yet to be asked but would jump at the opportunity if it presented itself.

“If asked, I would love to do it,” Rooker said. “It seems like a really fun time. Something I would definitely do.”