Athletics slugger Brent Rooker is adding his name to the list of Home Run Derby participants. Rooker announced Thursday that he’s participating in the event, which takes place Monday in Atlanta.
“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” Rooker said in an Instagram post. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”
He will become the first Athletics player in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021 – Olson hit 23 home runs in the event, but didn’t make it out of the first round.
Rooker, 30, entered Thursday with a .270 batting average, 19 homers and 50 RBIs, putting him on pace for a third straight season of at least 30 homers. He went deep 30 times in 2023 and had 39 long balls in 2024.
His 58 homers since the start of the 2024 season rank him third among all American League players, behind Aaron Judge (92) and Cal Raleigh (70), and seventh overall in MLB.
The only A’s to win the Derby were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Cespedes in both 2013 and 2014.
Other announced participants include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh and Washington’s James Wood.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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