NEW YORK – After an incredible run of good health throughout Spring Training, the Athletics were dealt a tough blow on Thursday with an early exit by Brent Rooker.
During his first at-bat of the game against the Yankees at Yankee Stadium in the first inning, Rooker fouled off an 0-1 pitch from Ryan Weathers and immediately reached for his right side/hip area with a look of discomfort. After a quick discussion with trainer Jeff Collins, Rooker walked off the field, was replaced mid-at-bat by Lawrence Butler and later diagnosed with right flank discomfort, putting a bit of a damper on what was an otherwise feel-good 1-0 win that marked the A’s first series win in the Bronx since 2016.
The severity of Rooker’s injury is unclear at this point. He will undergo further imaging before Friday’s series opener against the Mets at Citi Field to get more clarity on the issue.
“We’ll have more of an update [Friday],” manager Mark Kotsay said. “There’s just a lot of tightness right now. We’re hoping for the best.”
For reference, Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was originally diagnosed with right flank discomfort last April. But that was later discovered to be an oblique strain, and he missed just more than a month before returning in early June.
It goes without saying that losing Rooker for any amount of time would be difficult. He busted out of his slow start to the season with a dramatic two-homer game on Sunday, and the two-time All-Star slugger remains a key cog that makes this offense go.
Beyond his offensive presence, Rooker is the unofficial A’s captain and leader for this young playoff-aspiring ballclub.
“That’s our guy,” A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz said of Rooker. “That’s our leader. Obviously, he needs to do whatever he needs to do in the training room to get right, but we hope it’s not for too long or maybe any time at all.”
For his part, Rooker was hopeful after the game that his injury is not too serious.
“I feel all right right now,” Rooker said. “I’m a little tight and a little sore. We’ll get imaging done and see what that says.”
There’s no replacing the production of one of the game’s top hitters in Rooker, who last year hit .262 with an .814 OPS, 30 home runs, 40 doubles and 89 RBIs while playing in all 162 games.
Should Rooker have to miss time, however, the A’s do have some slugging outfielders at Triple-A Las Vegas performing well, including Colby Thomas and Zack Gelof, as well as No. 5 prospect Henry Bolte. Those three would all be in play for a callup in the event of a stint on the injured list for Rooker.