Article: Twins Daily 2019 Top Prospects: #6 Brent Rooker

[mikelink45]

 

Statistics tell us that prospects selected in this range generally have maybe a 50% chance of even sniffing the bigs and maybe a 30% shot at being better than league average. There is one, possibly two position players on that under 25 list that did not have higher expectations attached to them on their signing dates.

 

Personally, I've had a lingering suspicion that people have been harboring unrealistic expectations for Rooker all along based on fantasies about his light tower power persona. I have a nagging suspicion that a #6 ranking here is a bit generous. 

 

I admit to knowing nothing, but I'm more excited about a few others on this list. Miranda, Rortvedt, Gordon...

I accept that.  I thought he got off to a good start, I read too optimistic reports and I bought into them.  I really thought we had something in Rooker and yes, I did expect him to be here quicker.  His college playing counted for low minors to me.  

[sweetmusicviola16]

So far in these lists the "What's Left To Work On" has been extremely significant. Lets hope these prospects get it better than the others have in the last decade.

Edited February 8, 2019 by sweetmusicviola16

[jrod23]

Basically, what I get from Rooker is that he's good.  He's not great.  Don't know if I agree with the "dominated lower levels".  He was .282 in E-Town.  Jeffers was .422 w/a few less RBI, and then continued that to Cedar Rapids.  I know Cedar Rapids isn't Fort Myers, but I just don't think dominated is the right word.

 

Regardless, I like Rooker.  I'd love to get frustrated with him and his abundant strikeouts and sparing walks at the major league level, then see him go back to back behind Sano in game 7 of the ALDS in 2020.  Just saying.

[DocBauer]

I know I've posted this before, but Rooker improved each month:

 

K%

April - 29.6

May - 28.6

June - 28.0

July - 24.2

August/Sept - 22.8

 

BB%

April - 2.2

May - 7.0

June - 11.2

July - 13.3

August/Sept - 13.4

 

Heading into the draft Rooker was known to be obsessive about crafting his hitting technique, he's a great candidate to always be able to adjust. And his last month isn't much to be worried about, his strikeout and walk rates were peaking at that time but he had insanely bad luck with a .210 BABIP.

 

This!

 

Age 24 is not exactly old for AAA...even if he does "warm up" at AA to begin the season...and he could see Minnesota before the year is done.

 

His numbers improved EVERY SINGLE MONTH! That is learning, adjustments and progress. Yes, the last month was a downer. But it's a long season, and his FIRST full pro season. Even top prospects, and ML players as well, have those stretches where their BABIP just suffers for some reason.

 

I will take his season long improved numbers.

 

What does perplex me is the comment about appearing "stiff" as I've read various reports he is a good athlete with at least average speed. I find this perplexing. I find the idea of his playing a single position to be interesting, but I think it would be a disservice to both he and the Twins. It's just way too early in his career, only a season and a half in, to pigeonhole him. He needs coaching and development time at both spots. In time, he can hopefully be comfortable at both OF corners, as well as 1B, to just be average.

[saviking]

Rook has plenty of time to work on his swing as I see him as the perfect replacement for Cruz in 2021 ... One thing a designated hitter has to have is power, and he has that going for him .. In fact, the lack of homeruns have held the Twins back for decades. Just watch how many more runs we score and how much more exciting the games will be this year. I cut my teeth on Killebrew and Allison. Nothing like a big tator ...

[baumannmd]

The ranking seems high given Rooker’s defensive liabilities, but I think there’s something here with him at 1B/DH. I’d like to see him in MN in Sept if he continues the trends he started last season.

 

Otherwise, he seems like a player that could be packaged in a trade for someone who could help the big club.

 

With the lineup essentially rotating out 3-5 spots every year now, why not let a guy with some power see what he can do against MLB pitching. Cruz is here for 2019, 2020 if everything goes amazingly.

[gunnarthor]

The game seems to be changing so low on-base, high power guys might be more valuable than we thought a few years ago. I'm not sure. I hope Rooker pushes his way into the Twins lineup quickly though.

[Mike Sixel]

The game seems to be changing so low on-base, high power guys might be more valuable than we thought a few years ago. I'm not sure. I hope Rooker pushes his way into the Twins lineup quickly though.

Absolutely.

[dbminn]

 

The game seems to be changing so low on-base, high power guys might be more valuable than we thought a few years ago. I'm not sure. I hope Rooker pushes his way into the Twins lineup quickly though.

 

He and other power-only players will definitely get their value back if they expand rosters. I hope the MLB fathers approve it for 2020.

[gman]

A nice thing about the state of the Twins roster is that they don't have to rush guys through the minors to the big league team unlike 4-5 years ago. The roster has gotten stronger and I hope they will challenge for the division, but I don't feel they will win it.

 

It would be nice to see guys like Rooker,Lewis, Kirilloff, Romero  and others get some meaningful playing time late this year as the Twins "roar" to the finish line. 

[Shaitan]

 

I am not comparing him to the individual players, but right now the trend is for players to come to MLB younger and I did expect him to do that.

On the flip side of that argument, it means he's under team control through his prime this way. (Under the current CBA.)

[howieramone2]

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we have members who said he was too old to draft in the 2nd round. Also, could somebody show me where the trend is for younger players to come to the MLB.

 

Edited February 10, 2019 by howieramone2

[diehardtwinsfan]

You're welcome to dig up the draft thread Howie, but I'm pretty sure most of us were pretty happy we got him there. 

 

and also, wasn't he a supplemental first rounder?

 

[gbg]

Unrelated to Booker, but the Honorable Mentions ranking flips Gonsalves and Gordon from where they were originally ranked.