Rooker (oblique strain) to IL; A's summon Gelof in his stead

NEW YORK – The biggest fear surrounding the potential severity of Brent Rooker’s injury has been confirmed.

Before the Athletics opened up a three-game series against the Mets on Friday night at Citi Field, an MRI revealed a right oblique strain for Rooker, who sustained the injury after fouling off a pitch in the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Yankees in New York.

Rooker was placed on the 10-day injured list, though oblique injuries typically take longer to recover from, with four to six weeks being the general timeframe for a return. A’s catcher Shea Langeliers, however, did have somewhat of a quicker recovery from a similar issue in 2025. The slugging backstop was placed on the 10-day IL with a left oblique strain on June 6 of last season, began a rehab assignment on June 25 and was activated on June 30, missing a little over three weeks.

“I wouldn’t want to comment on the severity,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “It’s a right oblique strain. There’s no timetable for it. … We’re hopeful that Rook can get back as soon as possible.”

Of course, any time missed for Rooker is a tough blow for the A’s, who are now without their leader and unofficial team captain for the foreseeable future. Friday night was the first game Rooker has missed since Aug. 15, 2024, having played in 214 consecutive contests before this IL stint.

Last year, Rooker became just the fifth A’s player since 2000 to appear in all 162 games of a season and the first since Marcus Semien in 2019.

“That’s the first thing I thought about,” Kotsay said. “I know Rook prides himself on playing every day. It’s unfortunate to have this type of injury this early in the season. We’re hopeful that we can take care of this and put it behind him. But it was definitely different making out a lineup without his name in it today.”

This is the first real bout with the injury bug for the A’s this year. They got through Spring Training relatively unscathed and entered the regular season fully healthy, but injuries are part of the game that every team has to deal with at some point.

For the A’s, while there is no adequate replacement for Rooker both as a middle-of-the-order force and clubhouse presence, there is a strong belief in the position-player depth that exists at Triple-A Las Vegas, which they tapped into on Friday by recalling Zack Gelof in a corresponding move.

Gelof, who spent most of spring finishing his rehab from a dislocated left shoulder, has gone through a reinvention of sorts as he looks to recapture the form he displayed over a breakout 2023 rookie campaign. In addition to playing his usual position at second base, Gelof has expanded his versatility by playing all three outfield spots at Triple-A, where he’s also swung a hot bat through his first 11 games (.366 with a 1.251 OPS, four home runs, three doubles and 10 RBIs).

“What stands out to me is the walks,” Kotsay said of Gelof, who has drawn 13 walks in 54 plate appearances at Triple-A. “It’s the walk rate and the on-base [percentage]. He’s still driving the baseball, though. He’s earned this promotion. … We’re hopeful that translates here now as it has at Triple-A to start the season.”

Gelof will not be alone in filling in for Rooker. That will likely be a collaborative effort, with the designated-hitter spot likely to be a rotation of players on days the A’s would like to give them a break from the field. Carlos Cortes, who started Friday as the DH, also figures to see an uptick in playing time at the corner-outfield spots.

Rooker will be absent from the field for a while, but the A’s expect him to remain an influential figure inside the clubhouse, where his vast knowledge of hitting can still be a valuable resource for the younger players on the team.

“We had a hitters’ meeting today and he spoke up as one of the veteran guys on this team,” Kotsay said. “We see Rook as one of those guys in that locker room that has impact. His presence will always be a big part of this group. Even though he’s not on the field, he’s going to be helping in other ways, for sure.”