Brent Rooker and Jazz Chisholm Jr. Set for 2025 Home Run Derby
Brent Rooker has no plans of changing his hitting approach as he prepares for the 2025 Home Run Derby. “Just about every swing I’ve ever taken in my life, I’ve been trying to hit a home run,” shared the Athletics slugger. “It’s not like I have to change too much in that regard, but I did get out here early yesterday to get a feel for a 3-minute round and sense the timing of it.”
On Thursday, Rooker and New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. were officially added to the lineup of derby participants, finalizing the eight-player roster. The exciting event is set to unfold on Monday night in Atlanta, just ahead of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game.
Rooker will become the first player from the Athletics to participate in the Home Run Derby since Matt Olson in 2021. q9play agent login “I think it’s going to be fun,” Rooker stated. “I’m looking forward to it. As a kid growing up, watching the Home Run Derby and seeing the guys participate was one of the highlights of the summer. 555pub register”
The 30-year-old Rooker has entered Thursday with a batting average of .270, boasting 19 homers and 50 RBIs, which puts him on track for his third consecutive season of hitting at least 30 home runs. He launched 30 homers in 2023 and achieved 39 in 2024. giga life apk Since the start of the 2024 season, his 58 home runs place him third among American League players.
Rooker’s longtime youth coach, Joe Caruso, will serve as his pitcher for the derby. A’s manager Mark Kotsay joked that Rooker should have asked him to pitch, but Rooker chose to “respect my manager’s four-day break.” Kotsay commented, “You get the opportunity to go compete and show your skill set. We’ve all watched Rook hit homers—39 of them last year—so I think it’s deserving that they selected him. It’ll be fun to have something entertaining to watch on Monday night.”
In the history of the derby, the only A’s players to claim victory were Mark McGwire in 1992 and Yoenis Céspedes in 2013 and 2014. Chisholm, a 27-year-old two-time All-Star, will be making his debut in the derby, becoming the seventh different Yankees player to enter the competition. Notably, five Yankees have won the Home Run Derby, with Aaron Judge being the latest champion in 2017.
After being acquired from the Miami Marlins last July, Chisholm began the day with a batting average of .250, hitting 17 home runs and securing 43 RBIs over 62 games this season. He homered twice against Seattle on Wednesday night and has tallied seven home runs in his last 12 games, including 10 since returning from an oblique injury on June 3. 366 jili casino
When asked if he would be interested in participating in the derby on Wednesday night, Chisholm replied, “I mean, if they call me and ask me, I probably would be interested in doing it.”
The other confirmed participants in the derby include Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., Minnesota’s Byron Buxton, Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero, Pittsburgh’s Oneil Cruz, Seattle’s Cal Raleigh, and Washington’s James Wood. gojackpot casino
What are your thoughts on Rooker and Chisholm joining the Home Run Derby?