Rooker progressing well, may not need rehab assignment

ARLINGTON -- Brent Rooker may be closer than expected to rejoining the A’s, manager Mark Kotsay said Friday before the series opener against the Rangers.

“He’s really close,” Kotsay said. “The progression’s gone really well. He’ll take batting practice today. He’s already hit off a velo machine. There’s an outside chance [he will return] at some point this weekend or the first of next week.”

Kotsay said a rehab assignment may not be needed for Rooker.

“It’s a shorter time frame than what we expected for sure,” Kotsay said. “He does feel really good with everything he’s done up to this point. That being said, we’ll determine if he needs to go on a rehab or whether he just comes back. For his role as a DH, it’s not as important that he goes out and builds his legs up … as most guys that play the field would need.”

Rooker, an All-Star last season, landed on the 10-day IL with a right oblique strain on April 10. He was batting .146 with two home runs in his first 12 games before landing on the IL.