WEST SACRAMENTO -- Brent Rooker has established himself as one of the most prolific sluggers in baseball over the past few seasons. So it’s only fitting that his second career All-Star selection will include a spot in the 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby.
Before the Athletics’ series finale against the Braves on Thursday night at Sutter Health Park, their designated hitter was announced as the latest participant for the event, which takes place on July 14 at Truist Park in Atlanta. Rooker joins previously announced competitors Cal Raleigh, James Wood, Byron Buxton, Oneil Cruz, Junior Caminero, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Ronald Acuña Jr.
Rooker will be the first player to represent the A’s in the Derby since Matt Olson in 2021.
“I think it’s going to be fun,” Rooker said. “I’m looking forward to it. As a kid growing up, that was one of the highlights of the summer. Watching the Home Run Derby and seeing how far they can hit it. I’m looking forward to getting to do it. I think it’s going to be a good time.”
Throwing to Rooker will be Joe Caruso, his childhood hitting coach in Memphis from age 9 through high school.
“He throws to me in the offseason now,” Rooker said. “He’s probably seen me hit in the cage more than anybody and has thrown to me more than anybody. So it should be a good relationship out there.”
While discussing his All-Star selection on Sunday afternoon, Rooker, who had crushed 19 home runs this year entering Monday, made it clear that he would “definitely do” the Derby if he were asked.
It’s easy to see why he was invited. Rooker’s 88 homers since the start of the 2023 season are the ninth-most in the Majors. The list in front of him is an elite group of power hitters and previous Derby alumni, including Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber, Olson, Pete Alonso, Raleigh and Juan Soto.
Rooker will make his MLB Home Run Derby debut, but he’s no stranger to home run-hitting contests. He participated in multiple events in college while at Mississippi State, including the 2016 College Home Run Derby, which took place in Omaha during the College World Series. (He hit 29 total homers.)
Rooker will look to become the third Derby winner in A’s history, joining Mark McGwire (1992) and two-time champ Yoenis Céspedes (2013-14).
“The one in Omaha, I did pretty well,” Rooker said. “It was kind of a bracket-style thing. I made it to the semifinals with some guys who are pretty good hitters. So I have a little bit of experience.”
On the advice of previous Derby contestants who have reached out to him, such as Julio Rodríguez and Bobby Witt Jr., Rooker plans to go through a practice round with Caruso pitching to him over the weekend at Sutter Health Park before heading out to Atlanta.
There’s often some concern that comes with a player participating in the Derby and the potential after-effects it can leave on a swing. But in all reality, Rooker said he won’t have to change too much from his usual approach at the plate.
“I mean, look, just about every swing I’ve ever taken in my life, I’ve been trying to hit a home run,” Rooker said. “It’s not like I have to change too much in that regard.
“I did get out here early [Wednesday] and just got a feel for a three-minute round to kind of feel the timing of it. … The guys I talked to all said try to get at least one practice round in beforehand, just so I can get a feel for the pacing and what the three minutes feels like.”
The icing on the cake for Rooker is that this All-Star week will be much closer to home compared with two years ago in Seattle. Most of his family resides in Memphis, which is about a five-hour drive to Atlanta.
“I’ll have a lot of family there,” Rooker said. “In ‘23, Seattle was a bit of a journey, but they made it out there. It’ll be a little easier for a few more people to get there to Atlanta. … That should make the experience even that much more special.”