For the first time in his career, veteran slugger and former Mississippi State Bulldog Brent Rooker will compete in the MLB Home Run Derby.
Rooker announced via Instagram on Thursday that he has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby presented by T-Mobile on Monday, July 14. Last weekend, the Athletics designated hitter received his second all-star nod.
“Competing in the Home Run Derby has always been a dream of mine,” the slugger wrote. “Can’t wait to make it happen next week in Atlanta! See ya there!”
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Rooker, with 20 home runs heading into the Midsummer Classic, is on pace for this third consecutive 30-homer season. He has belted 87 long balls since the start of the 2023 season, which is ninth-most in the majors over that stretch.
Additional 2025 stat line numbers for Rooker include a .278 batting average, 60 runs scored, 22 doubles, and 54 RBI through 97 games.
Rooker joins previously announced derby participants Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (38 home runs), Washington Nationals left fielder James Wood (24 home runs), Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder Oneil Cruz (16 home runs), Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero (23 homes runs), and Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña, Jr. (12 home runs).
Wood, who is this season’s youngest all star at 22 years old, was once committed to Rooker’s alma mater but decided to dish college ball in Starkville for an early start in the pros.
Rooker will be the first A’s player to compete in the derby since Matt Olson in 2021 and joins a long list of others from the franchise to compete, including Jose Canseco (1986, 1990), Mark McGwire (1987, 1990, 1992, 1996, 1997), Jason Giambi (2001), and Yoenis Céspedes (2013, 2014). The only A’s players to ever win the crown were McGwire in 1992 and Céspedes during both of his appearances.
The 2025 MLB Home Run Derby will get underway from Atlanta’s Truist Park at 7 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on FOX.
