SEATTLE ¨C Brent Rooker has emerged as one of the game¡¯s elite hitters over the past two years. But for whatever reason, Opening Day is just not for him.
In his first three Major League Opening Days, Rooker is now 0-for-9 with eight strikeouts. Thursday¡¯s season opener at T-Mobile Park saw him make unwanted Athletics history by tying the franchise record for strikeouts on Opening Day with four, sharing the mark with Jack Cust (2008) and Eddie Joost (1948).
¡°I¡¯m objectively just a bad Opening Day player,¡± said Rooker, who could not even recall ever getting an Opening Day hit in the Minors either. ¡°But it¡¯s one game. Bad games happen. If that game happens on Game 83, it¡¯s not nearly as big of a deal as it is when it happens on Game 1.¡±
Friday night was not Opening Day, which meant Brent Rooker was back to doing Brent Rooker things.
Brushing off his golden sombrero, Rooker got the A¡¯s on the board in Friday¡¯s 7-0 victory over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park by launching his first home run of 2025. The two-run blast off Luis Castillo just cleared the wall in left-center at a Statcast-projected 394 feet. It was also his first homer since inking a five-year, $60 million contract extension this offseason.
¡°For Rook, tough night last night coming off four strikeouts,¡± manager Mark Kotsay said. ¡°That¡¯s turning the page. Tonight was a great night for him and a lot of guys in the lineup.¡±
After a quiet opening night from the foursome of Rooker, Lawrence Butler, JJ Bleday and Shea Langeliers ¨C a group that combined for 110 home runs in 2024 ¨C the four ignited the offense by combining to go 6-for-17 with three walks and four RBIs. Also chipping in with a pair of solo shots were Luis Ur¨ªas and Max Muncy, who homered for his first Major League hit.
¡°We showed the potential we have as an offensive unit,¡± Rooker said. ¡°Some homers. Some timely singles. Good baserunning. Patience early in the game taking some walks off a really good starter. One through nine, we showed what we¡¯re capable of tonight.¡±
The offensive outburst was plenty cushion for starter Jeffrey Springs, who dominated in his A¡¯s debut with nine strikeouts across six scoreless innings. The 32-year-old left-hander finished Spring Training feeling confident after correcting a flaw in his delivery just before his final spring start, which saw him rack up eight strikeouts in four innings, and that momentum seemingly carried over into his first start of the regular season.
Springs and Luis Severino, two veterans with solid track records, were brought in this offseason to serve as rotation anchors for a young A¡¯s squad with serious playoff dreams. The duo¡¯s ERA remains spotless through one turn, as Severino flashed his brilliance on Thursday with six shutout innings of his own.
¡°For them to have these types of performances back to back, it sets the tone,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°They¡¯ve raised the bar quite a bit.¡±
Between Springs¡¯ outing, a 12-hit effort by the A¡¯s offense and a flawless finish by the bullpen, Friday night encapsulated why the A¡¯s were picked by so many to be the team that surprises the most in ¡®25.
Plus, with Opening Day in the rearview, the A¡¯s can count on Rooker to perform more like the Silver Slugger who bashed 69 home runs over the previous two seasons. At least, until next season's opener rolls around.
¡°It¡¯s a mental hurdle I need to get over for next year,¡± Rooker said. ¡°We¡¯ll work on that when the time comes.¡±