Athletics Outfielder Brent Rooker’s All-Star Week Recap
Brent Rooker, the outfielder for the Athletics, kicked off his week in Atlanta, which is set to host the 2025 MLB All-Star Game.
On Monday, Rooker participated in the annual Home Run Derby. The following day, he was among three players selected by American League manager Aaron Boone for the first swing-off of the All-Star Game.
Rooker went 3-for-3 during the dramatic Home Run Derby-style tiebreaker. However, Philadelphia Phillies star Kyle Schwarber managed to score three points in the swing-off, clinching the win for the National League.
Interestingly, some prominent power hitters were absent from the swing-offs. Rooker’s group included Jonathan Aranda and Randy Arozarena, while the National League featured Schwarber, Pete Alonso, and Kyle Stowers.
This choice of players left some observers puzzled. ESPN MLB reporter Jeff Passan shared his preferred lineup, specifically addressing the selection of swing-off participants.
Passan mentioned the likes of Judge, Aaron, Cal, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. facing off against Shohei Ohtani, Pete Alonso, and Kyle Schwarber.
In response, Rooker humorously questioned on social media, “Isn’t I enough for you?” He later clarified that he held no hard feelings towards Passan.
Rooker jokingly added, “I’m not really angry if you like Jeff; I’d choose Aaron, Cal, and Vladi over me too,” in a follow-up post.
Manager Boone commented on the player selection for the swing-off, explaining that each manager needed to submit three names a day prior to the event. He emphasized the importance of choosing players who would be suitable for the game.
Rooker’s social media activity around the All-Star Festival has drawn attention before. Recently, he responded to criticism after he was seen giving a bottle to his 11-month-old daughter during the Home Run Derby.
Some viewers expressed discontent, noting that they wanted to see more of Rooker on the field. Rooker replied, clarifying that he had to feed his child as it was around 9 PM.
