Oakland Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker left Thursday's game against the New York Yankees in the first inning after fouling off a pitch and showing discomfort in his right side. He was diagnosed with right flank discomfort following a discussion with trainer Jeff Collins and replaced by Lawrence Butler. The Athletics secured a 1-0 victory, their first series win at Yankee Stadium since 2016.
Brent Rooker fouled off an 0-1 pitch from Yankees pitcher Ryan Weathers during his first at-bat at Yankee Stadium. He immediately grabbed his right side and hip area, prompting a brief talk with trainer Jeff Collins. Rooker then walked off the field mid-at-bat, with Lawrence Butler stepping in as his replacement, as the Athletics went on to win 1-0 on Thursday evening. This marked their first series victory in the Bronx since 2016. The injury occurred after a strong Spring Training for the team health-wise, but details remain limited pending further imaging before Friday's game against the Mets at Citi Field. Manager Mark Kotsay noted the tightness in the area, saying, “We’ll have more of an update [Friday]. There’s just a lot of tightness right now. We’re hoping for the best.” Rooker himself expressed optimism post-game: “I feel all right right now. I’m a little tight and a little sore. We’ll get imaging done and see what that says.” For context, Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. experienced similar right flank discomfort last April, which turned out to be an oblique strain requiring over a month away. A’s first baseman Nick Kurtz called Rooker “our guy” and “our leader,” emphasizing his importance to the young team. The two-time All-Star had a two-homer game on Sunday after a slow start and played all 162 games last season, hitting .262 with 30 home runs, 40 doubles, 89 RBIs, and an .814 OPS. Should he miss time, Triple-A Las Vegas outfielders like Colby Thomas, Zack Gelof, and prospect Henry Bolte could be options for a call-up.
