Brent Rooker

Rooker will compete for a reserve role this spring after showing some promise late last season in his first extended playing time. Rooker looked set to contend for a major league job after seven-game flash ( .316/.381/.579) in 2020 that was cut short by a broken arm. Rooker struggled in spring training and Triple-A, but found his form in the majors in the second half by hitting eight home runs with a .742 OPS. Rooker has prodigious power, but his high strikeout rate (32.9%) and limited defensive ability may limit his upside. He's had strong walk rates in the minors, so he could improve his on-base skills. He'll be in the mix for a reserve role or could factor at DH.

Rooker made a strong impression in his first short stint in the majors which could have him poised for regular playing time. The 25-year-old enjoyed a brief but productive run as a part-time player for the Twins following a Sept. 4 promotion, appearing in seven games and slashing .316/.381/.579 before suffering a season-ending broken right forearm after being struck by a pitch. Rooker advanced to the Triple-A level in 2019 but missed most of the second half of the season with a groin injury as he appeared in just 65 games. Over those 65 games, the 25-year-old hit .281/.398/.535 with 14 home runs. Rooker has prodigious power, but his high strikeout rate (34.7% in 2019) and limited defensive ability may limit his upside. He did strike out a lower 23.9 percent rate in his short MLB sample, however. He'll be in the mix for a reserve or large role in the outfield and first base this spring.

Rooker, the No. 35 overall draft pick in 2017, played in only 65 games at Triple-A and was limited to just two games after mid-July due to a groin injury. Rooker has prodigious power, as evidenced by the 14 home runs in those 65 games with a .254 ISO. While his .933 OPS and 139 wRC+ look impressive, his inability to make consistent contact is a concern. He had a 34.7 K% and just a 58.3% contact rate. He's also seen as a limited defender already confined to first base, left field and designated hitter. He was also old for his level last season, and keep in mind Triple-A used the same juiced ball as MLB last season. Those considerations take away a lot of the shine from his numbers. At 25 years old, his upside in the majors would seem limited. Still, he could be one of the first players called up if there's an opening at first base or DH.

As a supplemental first-round draft pick who put up huge numbers after signing in 2017 and who is now relatively close to the majors, Rooker has plenty of supporters. However, there are some obvious flaws in his profile that should not be overlooked. He posted a 124 wRC+ last year at Double-A, but was 23 years old and still struck out at a 26.4% clip with a middling .333 OBP. Age relative to level is important, especially for a player who probably profiles best as a designated hitter. He is a mediocre defender in left field and at first base, so his bat obviously has to carry him. Rooker has as much raw power (.211 ISO at Double-A) as any player the Twins have on the farm, but he does not project to make enough quality contact to hit for a high enough average to play at the bottom of the defensive spectrum. It is possible he could make improvements in that regard at Triple-A, but if he struggles in his age-24 season, he will quickly become an afterthought.

A Mississippi State product who was the most dominant Division 1 hitter in 2017, Rooker still fell to No. 35 overall in the draft due to his first base/left field defensive limitations and his age (he's already 23). Rooker hit more home runs (18) in 62 games between the Appalachian League and Florida State League than the first six position players selected from that class combined to hit in their debuts. That says more about his age/experience relative to the players he was facing than it says about his power, which is plus, but not generational. His 29 percent strikeout rate at High-A illustrates the type of risk involved going forward. Given his age, we'll never fully buy in until he produces at the highest level, and if he falters on the way there, he isn't young enough to get the benefit of the doubt. Rooker's profile is very similar to that of A.J. Reed, which is important to remember if he's dominating at Triple-A and on the verge of a big-league promotion a year from now.