Twins Daily 2020 Top Prospects: #9 Brent Rooker

[joefish]

Can we tolerate his defense?

I really dislike having to ask that question.

Our pitchers deserve the best defense we can give them.

[mikelink45]

 

Rooker started rookie ball at age 22, so he never really had the chance to do so. But I do remember that being part of the reason why he was a late 1st round pick and not a higher selection.

The old saying was draft a college player because they are almost ready to step into the lineup and that is how it should be.

 

[mikelink45]

 

I wouldn't worry about his age. He's not old. He's had a full season in AAA. Now it's just about opportunity. He raked for the last 2/3 of the AAA season and probably would have come up last year if he wasn't hurt. Age-to-level does matter in prospect rankings, but as Garver and Dozier and so many others have shown in the past, it isn't at all a be-all-end-all. 

Seth, you are the expert for minor league prospects so give us your perspective.  With Sano, Kepler, Rosario, Cave, Ward already having MLB time.Considering Kiriloff, Raley, Larnach ahead of him, Wallner, Urbina, Baddoo behind him what is his real chance of making the team in the next two years?  

 

Based on his fielding, hitting, and positions doesn't he look more like a trade candidate?  I know about late bloomers, but in reality they are not that prolific. 

[Blackjack]

These are the types of informative articles that I like on Twins Daily and the reason that I log in. Thanks!!! Keep it up!!!!

[jorgenswest]

His performance last year was similar to 2018 in the context of the pitchers he faced. Batters against the pitchers he faced put up and OPS of .800 resulting in a DRC+ of 123. Even Nick Gordon had a DRC+ of 107 last year. Rooker had a 117 in 2018. BABIP last year was .417.

 

The OPS last year looks great and encouraging. Taken in the context of the group of pitchers he faced and his BABIP leaves me wondering if there is much hope here. What would his DRC+ need to be at the major league level with his defensive limitations? I think he would need to be in the same 117-123 neighborhood or he will have a career somewhere in the range of Austin to Cron.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, you are the expert for minor league prospects so give us your perspective.  With Sano, Kepler, Rosario, Cave, Ward already having MLB time.Considering Kiriloff, Raley, Larnach ahead of him, Wallner, Urbina, Baddoo behind him what is his real chance of making the team in the next two years?  

 

Based on his fielding, hitting, and positions doesn't he look more like a trade candidate?  I know about late bloomers, but in reality they are not that prolific. 

 

Opportunity isn't, or shouldn't be part of prospect rankings. Rooker's 2020 path to the big leagues is probably an early-season injury to Rosario, Kepler, Sano or maybe Donaldson, or Cruz. 

 

So yeah, a trade is certainly a reasonable thing. 

 

But none of that affects his prospect status.