OAKLAND, Calif. — Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker underwent surgical procedure on his proper forearm after being bothered by an elbow situation that restricted him to enjoying primarily designated hitter this season.
Rooker’s arthoscopic process was carried out Tuesday by Dr. Michael Freehill to restore an extensor tendon that was partially torn, based on common supervisor David Forst.
“Simple cleanup and ought to be 100% by spring coaching,” Forst stated.
The 29-year-old Rooker had a career-high 39 dwelling runs and 112 RBIs whereas batting .365 over 145 video games — 131 of these as DH. Supervisor Mark Kotsay hopes as soon as wholesome Rooker could be a daily outfield possibility once more.
He was within the coaching room nearly day by day to really feel nicely sufficient to play.
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“Rook, he surpassed expectations in 2023 and type of introduced his presence as a authentic middle-of-the-order bat after which took it a step additional this 12 months the place he ought to have been a back-to-back All-Star,” Forst stated in video name Friday. “He was the man we wished up in each state of affairs. He was the man Mark counted on. He was not 100% wholesome all 12 months. I do not understand how many individuals even actually seen, however he did not play the outfield after the second half of the season.”
Forst added: “I am not a physician, I simply play one on TV. However it strikes me as very spectacular that he was capable of battle by means of what he did and put up the offensive season that he had.”
Constructing a stronger offensive workforce will probably be a prime precedence because the membership relocates to Sacramento for what’s anticipated to be the subsequent three years earlier than the hope of enjoying in a brand new ballpark in Las Vegas for the 2028 marketing campaign.
After consecutive 100-loss seasons, the A’s completed 69-93 in Kotsay’s third season and the ultimate 12 months on the Oakland Coliseum.
“Our largest factor as we speak about lengthening the lineup, if we will do this with using the DH place so as to add one other bat and Rook can exit and play the outfield, that is going to make us higher,” Kotsay stated. “We’re at all times trying to maximize our roster, and with Rook with the ability to play the outfield, it is undoubtedly going to assist us do this.”
