Brent Rooker

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #12 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Rooker with the 35th overall pick in 2017 after he won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Mississippi State. After homering at a steady clip in the minors for three seasons, Rooker made his big league debut in 2020 and continued to show impressive power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has massive raw power and the ability to hit 25-30 home runs per season. That plus power comes with plenty of strikeouts, however, and his whiff rate eclipsed 34% in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester. The Twins believe Rooker controls the strike zone better than he gets credit for. He does see a decent amount of pitches and has the potential to walk at a solid clip that could offset a low batting average. Rooker's contributions will primarily be on the offensive side of the ball. He's a belowaverage defender in left field and at first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker's power should allow him to be a contributor in 2021. He may be a hitter who cycles through first base, DH and the bench as opposed to an everyday player.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #13 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Rooker added loft to his swing for his senior season and led the nation in doubles and total bases at Mississippi State to gain notice from scouts. Rooker has averaged a home run every 20 plate appearances as a pro but saw his 2019 season hampered by a left wrist injury.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has the power to hit 25 home runs or more while drawing enough walks to offset a below-average hit tool. Plenty of strikeouts are a price to be paid for his power. The Twins have tried Rooker in left field and at first base, but he's below-average at either spot. His hands and reactions are poor at first and his routes and below-average speed limit him in left. He runs the bases well.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker has the power to be a productive regular, but without a clear defensive position it will be tough for him to earn that shot. He has a chance to fit in the Twins' DH/first base mix in 2020.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #6 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Rooker improved his stock greatly by returning to Mississippi State after nearly accepting a modest 38th-round bonus from the Twins in 2016. A year later, the Memphis-area product went 35th overall and received the full slot figure of $1.935 million after posting the second-highest exit velocity in college baseball.
  
  Scouting Report: Rooker slowed down a bit after an eye-popping pro debut. Pushed to Double-A Chattanooga to start 2018, he found his low-ball swing tested with hard stuff above the belt. Too often, Rooker struggled with pitch recognition by chasing high fastballs and power breaking balls out of the zone. His strikeout rate crept up to 26.4 percent, while he still managed to walk 9.9 percent of the time. Hopes have faded for converting Rooker into a full-time left fielder, a la Josh Willingham, mainly due to Rooker’s below-average arm and poor reads. Even at first base, the ball gets on him in a hurry. He is a smart baserunner with good instincts despite below-average speed.
  
  The Future: A high ankle sprain led the Twins to pull Rooker from the Arizona Fall League. He is expected to return to Double-A to open 2019.
• 
  Ranked Minnesota Twins #7 prospect in 2018
  Drafted in successive years by the Twins, Rooker improved his stock considerably by going back to college. After nearly accepting a modest 38th-round bonus in 2016, the Memphis-area product signed for the full-slot figure of $1.935 million following a record-setting season at Mississippi State. He also earned his degree with a double major in business administration and management. Terry Rooker, his father, caught four seasons at the University of Memphis and younger brother Josh is a freshman catcher there now, but neither ever tried to convert Brent to the position. Lynne Oliver, his mother, played college tennis at Baylor and Memphis. Rooker hit the ground running as expected, showing plus power and hitting 18 combined homers in just 62 games in the Appalachian and Florida State leagues. Having honed his power stroke and improved his contact rate in college, the powerfully built Rooker reminds some of former Twins left fielder Josh Willingham. Rooker still has some swing-and-miss in his game, especially on power breaking balls and soft stuff from lefties, but his walk rate should improve along with his pitch recognition. Primarily a first baseman in college, Rooker showed enough mobility and arm to be a tick below average in left. He is a smart baserunner despite below-average speed. After ranking second in Division I with an average exit velocity of 92 mph, Rooker matched that number in the FSL during his first pro summer. Already on the fast track due to his advanced bat, Rooker should remain in left as he climbs the ladder. He projects as a middle-of-the-order weapon with power as a strong carrying tool.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #45 prospect in 2017 draft
  After being lightly recruited out of high school and taking a redshirt his first year at Mississippi State, Rooker has turned into the most dangerous hitter in college baseball this spring as a redshirt junior. By mid-May, he led the Southeastern Conference in nine statistical categories (including all three triple crown stats) and was three stolen bases shy of becoming college baseball's first 20-20 player since Andrew Benintendi. Rooker was an all-SEC pick in 2016 and was drafted in the 38th round by the Twins, but has grown as a hitter in the last year. The righthanded hitter has reigned in his free-swinging tendencies, cutting his strikeout rate from 20.9 percent of his plate appearances to 17.4 percent. He has also gotten stronger, allowing him to drive the ball with more authority. Those improvements have turned him into a solid hitter with plus power. Rooker has primarily played first base this spring out of Mississippi State's necessity. He has become a capable defender at first, and also has the speed and athleticism to allow him to handle left field, though his throwing arm limits him to left. Rooker turns 22 in November. His age and lack of a premium defensive position will weigh his draft stock down. He earns praise for his work ethic, makeup and leadership.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #12 prospect in 2018
  Rooker won the Southeastern Conference’s Triple Crown in 2017, hitting .387 with 23 home runs and 82 RBIs, enticing the Twins to draft the redshirt junior 35th overall. He launched 18 more homers in a pro debut spent primarily in the high Class A Florida State League before tackling Double-A in 2018. Rooker started the season slow and finished ice cold, but in between he hit .299/.386/.584 for 75 games from May 15 to Aug. 10. He ranked second in the SL in home runs (22) and first in doubles (32) and RBIs (79). Rooker has double-plus raw power and plus power frequency in games. He stands off the plate and challenges pitchers to come inside, and when they do he can drive the ball deep to his pull side. He improved his ability to let the ball travel deep with two strikes during the season, but he needs improve his coverage of the outer part of the plate to become a more well-rounded hitter. Rooker is a below-average defender at first base who is stretched in left field and thus must hit to earn his keep.
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  Ranked Florida State League #8 prospect in 2017
  A first-team All-American in the spring, Rooker won the Southeastern Conference's old-school and modern triple crowns at Mississippi State. After hitting 23 homers for the Bulldogs, he finished his pro debut with 18 homers, with 11 in just 40 FSL games. In just a third of the season, he fell seven homers shy of the league lead, and power is Rooker's calling card. While scouts don't all love his right-right profile, he's hitting his way higher and higher into their reports. He showed power to all fields, and managers were impressed with his feel for hitting as well. "He's a hitter," one said in summary, "not just a power guy." Rooker looks better in the batter's box than with a glove, but he was capable defensively at first base. He's below-average in left field, though he's athletic enough to make it work if he sets his mind to it.
• 
  Ranked American League #5 prospect in 2017
  Rooker lit the college baseball world on fire in the Southeastern Conference en route to being drafted by the Twins in the supplemental first round. He hit .387/.495/.810 as a redshirt junior and quickly advanced from the Appy League to high Class A in the Twins system. Already 22, Rooker quickly made waves in pro ball by hitting 18 home runs in his debut, a testament to his plus raw power. Despite facing modest strikeout concerns, Rooker should be able to tap into his power on a regular basis. He swings with natural loft and is able to make coordinated contact with pitches all over the plate. Rooker has proven to be a reliable defender at first base and could see more time in left field next season. He's athletic enough to handle the outfield, but a fringy arm and merely satisfactory glove work limits him to left field.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #92 prospect in 2018

• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Rooker with the 35th overall pick in 2017 after he won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Mississippi State. After homering at a steady clip in the minors for three seasons, Rooker made his big league debut in 2020 and continued to show impressive power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has massive raw power and the ability to hit 25-30 home runs per season. That plus power comes with plenty of strikeouts, however, and his whiff rate eclipsed 34% in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester. The Twins believe Rooker controls the strike zone better than he gets credit for. He does see a decent amount of pitches and has the potential to walk at a solid clip that could offset a low batting average. Rooker's contributions will primarily be on the offensive side of the ball. He's a belowaverage defender in left field and at first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker's power should allow him to be a contributor in 2021. He may be a hitter who cycles through first base, DH and the bench as opposed to an everyday player.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Rooker with the 35th overall pick in 2017 after he won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Mississippi State. After homering at a steady clip in the minors for three seasons, Rooker made his big league debut in 2020 and continued to show impressive power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has massive raw power and the ability to hit 25-30 home runs per season. That plus power comes with plenty of strikeouts, however, and his whiff rate eclipsed 34% in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester. The Twins believe Rooker controls the strike zone better than he gets credit for. He does see a decent amount of pitches and has the potential to walk at a solid clip that could offset a low batting average. Rooker's contributions will primarily be on the offensive side of the ball. He's a belowaverage defender in left field and at first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker's power should allow him to be a contributor in 2021. He may be a hitter who cycles through first base, DH and the bench as opposed to an everyday player.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Twins drafted Rooker with the 35th overall pick in 2017 after he won Southeastern Conference Player of the Year at Mississippi State. After homering at a steady clip in the minors for three seasons, Rooker made his big league debut in 2020 and continued to show impressive power.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has massive raw power and the ability to hit 25-30 home runs per season. That plus power comes with plenty of strikeouts, however, and his whiff rate eclipsed 34% in 2019 at Triple-A Rochester. The Twins believe Rooker controls the strike zone better than he gets credit for. He does see a decent amount of pitches and has the potential to walk at a solid clip that could offset a low batting average. Rooker's contributions will primarily be on the offensive side of the ball. He's a belowaverage defender in left field and at first base.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker's power should allow him to be a contributor in 2021. He may be a hitter who cycles through first base, DH and the bench as opposed to an everyday player.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rooker added loft to his swing for his senior season and led the nation in doubles and total bases at Mississippi State to gain notice from scouts. Rooker has averaged a home run every 20 plate appearances as a pro but saw his 2019 season hampered by a left wrist injury.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has the power to hit 25 home runs or more while drawing enough walks to offset a below-average hit tool. Plenty of strikeouts are a price to be paid for his power. The Twins have tried Rooker in left field and at first base, but he’s below-average at either spot. His hands and reactions are poor at first and his routes and below-average speed limit him in left. He runs the bases well.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker has the power to be a productive regular, but without a clear defensive position it will be tough for him to earn that shot. He has a chance to fit in the Twins’ DH/first base mix in 2020.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rooker added loft to his swing for his senior season and led the nation in doubles and total bases at Mississippi State to gain notice from scouts. Rooker has averaged a home run every 20 plate appearances as a pro but saw his 2019 season hampered by a left wrist injury.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rooker has the power to hit 25 home runs or more while drawing enough walks to offset a below-average hit tool. Plenty of strikeouts are a price to be paid for his power. The Twins have tried Rooker in left field and at first base, but he's below-average at either spot. His hands and reactions are poor at first and his routes and below-average speed limit him in left. He runs the bases well.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rooker has the power to be a productive regular, but without a clear defensive position it will be tough for him to earn that shot. He has a chance to fit in the Twins' DH/first base mix in 2020.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Rooker has struggled to come close to matching what he did in his pro debut when he was the most feared power hitter in the Florida State League. Southern League pitchers have generally survived if they can get him to chase out of the zone. But he still goes on power binges where all of a sudden he’s almost impossible to retire. Rooker is going to need to improve his selectivity as his current swing-and-miss tendencies hinder his ability to get to all of his power. The Twins are working to get Rooker to fringe-average in left field, but they’ve also given him stretches at first base, where he’s better defensively.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Drafted in successive years by the Twins, Rooker improved his stock considerably by going back to college. After nearly accepting a modest 38th-round bonus in 2016, the Memphis-area product signed for the full-slot figure of $1.935 million following a record-setting season at Mississippi State. Scouting Report: Rooker hit the ground running in pro ball, showing top-of-the-scale power and hitting 18 homers in 62 games at Rookie-level Elizabethton and high Class A Fort Myers. Having honed his power stroke and improved his contact rate in college, the powerfully built Rooker reminds some of former Twins left fielder Josh Willingham. Rooker still has some swing-and-miss in his game, especially on power breaking balls and soft stuff from lefties, but his walk rate should improve along with his pitch recognition. He showed enough mobility and arm to be a tick below-average in left field. He is a smart baserunner despite below-average speed. The Future: Already on the fast track due to his advanced bat, Rooker should remain in left as he climbs the ladder. He projects as a middle-of-the-order weapon with power as his carrying tool.