General manager David Forst announced on Friday that designated hitter Brent Rooker, the offensive anchor of the Sacramento-bound A’s, underwent surgery on Tuesday to “clean up” a right forearm extensor injury.
Forst said that Rooker, who was never fully healthy during the regular season, should be 100 percent by spring training.
“Rook was on the training table every day,” Forst said. “He made sure he got out there and got his swings, and he was absolutely the anchor in the middle of the lineup that we’ve been looking for, really, since K.D. (Khris Davis) was doing what he was doing.”
Rooker only played 14 games in the outfield this past season, the last being on May 30, compared to 131 games as a designated hitter. In 2023, by contrast, Rooker played 60 games in the outfield.
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Manager Mark Kotsay said “it definitely is an option for us” to use Rooker in the outfield next season.
“Our biggest thing is we talked about lengthening out the lineup,” Kotsay said. “If we can do that with utilizing the DH position to add another bat and Rook going out to play the outfield, we know that’s going to make us better. We’re always looking to maximize our roster, and with Rook being able to play the outfield, that’s definitely going to help us do that.”
Despite the lingering forearm ailment, Rooker ended his season with career-highs in homers (39), RBIs (112), runs scored (82), steals (11), batting average (.293), OPS (.927) and WAR (5.6, per Baseball Reference). Rooker and right fielder Lawrence Butler, who broke out and finished with 22 homers and 18 steals, formed one of baseball’s most dynamic offensive duos in the second half.
“I’m not a doctor — I just play one on T.V. — but it strikes me as very impressive that he was able to battle through what he did and put up the offensive season that he had,” Forst said.