The Athletics have announced that designated hitter Brent Rooker will undergo season-ending knee surgery. Rooker, a two-time All-Star, has been dealing with injuries this season, including a strained right oblique and a cartilage tear in his left knee.
Rooker’s Season Ends Early
Rooker’s surgery will address the cartilage tear in his left knee, which has been causing him issues since June 8. Despite a cortisone shot on June 10, the problem persisted, and the team has decided to shut him down for the season.
Rooker ends his season with a .200 batting average, 10 home runs, and 29 RBIs in 48 games. His absence will be felt, as he is a key contributor to the team’s offense and a leader in the clubhouse.
Manager Mark Kotsay expressed his disappointment at losing Rooker, saying, ‘This is a big blow… It’s a middle-of-the-order bat. It’s a guy that produced for us offensively for the last three seasons with 30-plus homers.’
The Athletics will look to other players to fill the void left by Rooker, including Joey Meneses, who was recently called up from Triple-A Las Vegas.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
