Biography
Terry Brent Rooker Jr. (born November 1, 1994) is an American professional baseball outfielder and designated hitter for the Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, and Kansas City Royals. He made his MLB debut in 2020. Rooker was selected to the 2023 MLB All-Star Game.
Amateur career
Rooker attended Evangelical Christian School in Memphis, Tennessee, and enrolled at Mississippi State University to play college baseball for the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Rooker redshirted for the 2014 season. He played in 34 games in 2015, hitting .257/.325/.378 with two home runs and 12 runs batted in (RBIs). In 2016, he helped lead the Bulldogs to an Southeastern Conference (SEC) championship, hitting .324/.376/.578 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs. In 2016, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League, and was named a league all-star.
In 2017, Rooker was named Collegiate Baseball national Player of the Year and SEC Player of the Year after leading the conference with a .387 batting average, 23 home runs, and 82 RBIs, winning only the second triple crown in SEC history, along with a .495 on base percentage, .810 slugging percentage, 30 doubles, and 18 stolen bases. He also won the C Spire Ferriss Trophy, given to Mississippi's top college baseball player.
Professional career
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins selected Rooker with the 35th overall selection of the 2017 Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. He signed with the Twins for a $1.935 million signing bonus. Rooker was assigned to the Elizabethton Twins and was later promoted to the Fort Myers Miracle. In 62 games between both clubs, he batted .281/.364/.566 with 18 home runs, 52 RBIs, and a .930 OPS.
Rooker spent 2018 with the Chattanooga Lookouts. He batted .254/.333/.465 with 22 home runs (2nd in the Southern League), 79 RBIs (leading the league), 32 doubles (tied for the league lead), and 150 strikeouts (4th) in 130 games. He spent 2019 with the Rochester Red Wings, earning International League All-Star honors. Over 65 games, he hit .281/.398/.535 with 14 home runs and 47 RBIs.
On September 4, 2020, Rooker was promoted to the major leagues for the first time and made his major league debut that day against the Detroit Tigers.
San Diego Padres
On April 7, 2022, the Twins traded Rooker, Taylor Rogers, and cash considerations to the San Diego Padres in exchange for Chris Paddack, Emilio Pagán, and a player to be named later.
Kansas City Royals
On August 2, 2022, the Padres traded Rooker to the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Cam Gallagher. In 14 games for Kansas City, he batted .160/.276/.200 with 2 RBI. On November 15, Rooker was designated for assignment by the Royals.
Oakland Athletics / Athletics
2023
On November 17, 2022, Rooker was claimed off outright waivers by the Oakland Athletics. He earned a spot on the team out of spring training. On May 1, 2023, Rooker was named the AL Player of the Week after going 10 for 24 with 5 home runs and 11 RBIs from April 24 through 30. In July, Rooker was named to the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game as a reserve. He was the team's sole representative. Entering the game as a replacement to Randy Arozarena and playing left field, Rooker went 1–2 with a double.
He led the A's in home runs (30), RBIs (69), OPS (.817), games played (137), at-bats (463), total bases (226) and strikeouts (172). He tied with Esteury Ruiz for the team-lead in hits (114). He led the American League in strikeout percentage (32.7%), while batting .246/.329/.488.
2024
Rooker began the 2024 season as the team's clean-up hitter on Opening Day. After hitting only .200 with two home runs and 16 strikeouts in his first eight appearances, Rooker was placed on the 10-day injured list on April 11, retroactive to April 8. On May 6, Rooker was named the American League Player of the Week for April 29 to May 5. In 145 games for the Athletics in 2024, he slashed .293/.365/.562 with 39 home runs, 112 RBI, and 11 stolen bases. On October 4, Rooker underwent extensor repair surgery in his right forearm.
2025
On January 7, 2025, Rooker signed a five-year, $60 million contract extension to remain with the Athletics.
International career
Rooker was named to the United States national baseball team for the 2019 WBSC Premier 12. In the tournament he batted .300/.333/.800 with three home runs and five RBIs in 20 at bats. He was named to the tournament All-World Team as the best designated hitter.