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  • Brent Rooker Suffers Season-Ending Forearm Fracture

    Tom Froemming

    By Tom Froemming

    Brent Rooker was making the most of an unexpected opportunity with the Twins, hitting .316/.381/.579 (.960 OPS) heading into his second plate appearance Saturday night. Then, in a flash, his season was over.

    Image courtesy of © Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    Rooker was hit in his right forearm by an 86 mph changeup from Zach Plesac, the first batter he’s hit all season. Here’s a look:

    The combination of that changeup, which breaks in to a right-handed batter, getting away from Plesac and Rooker starting and checking his swing made for the perfect recipe for disaster. It’s actually pretty remarkable things like this don’t happen more often.

    There’s no way to spin this as anything but terrible news for Rooker, but all things considered, this will end as a positive season for him.

    Rooker proved he was ready for the big leagues by hitting .319/.463/.572 (1.036 OPS) over his final 41 Triple-A games last season. Still, with the 2020 Twins lineup already established, it was going to be difficult for him to find opportunities for playing time.

    Max Kepler’s trip to the IL opened the door, and Rooker did not disappoint. It was only seven games and 21 plate appearances, but Rooker went 6-for-19 with a pair of doubles and a home run.

    https://twitter.com/TFTwins/status/1303474541230993409

    Rooker posted a 14.3 barrel %, 89.1 mph exit velocity and 50% hard-hit rate, all of which are above the MLB averages. He’s one of only four Twins batters to hit a ball in excess of 112 mph this season, joining Miguel Sanó, Nelson Cruz and fellow rookie Ryan Jeffers in accomplishing that feat.

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    Brock Beauchamp

    Brock Beauchamp 39,328

  • Administrator

    • Posted

     

    I think, as the roster stands today, for 2021 they deal Rosario then let Rooker/Larnach/Kiriloff battle it out in Spring Training. If one struggles to adapt, they have the others (and Cave) as backup plans. That's also pretending it's business as usual in 2021. I see Wade as valuable, but not in the picture for a starting role.

     

    Given how Rocco rests players and the loss of a year of minor league development, they can get by with 4 "starters". Especially if Marwin is gone and Kepler still has a big split in LHP/RHP.

     

    Anyway, getting off track here. Best of luck in recovery for Rooker. At least he got a taste of The Show. Far fewer prospects get to say that this year.

    I think it's far more likely Rosario walks than is traded.

     

    And I really think the Twins are going to let him walk this offseason. With Rooker, Larnach, and Kirilloff sitting in the high minors, there just isn't much reason to keep Rosario when that money could easily be spent elsewhere. One of the minor leaguers should be able to step in and give a reasonable facsimile of Eddie's numbers, probably giving something away on offense and getting it back on defense.

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    USAFChief

    USAFChief 58,010

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    I think it's far more likely Rosario walks than is traded.

     

    And I really think the Twins are going to let him walk this offseason. With Rooker, Larnach, and Kirilloff sitting in the high minors, there just isn't much reason to keep Rosario when that money could easily be spent elsewhere. One of the minor leaguers should be able to step in and give a reasonable facsimile of Eddie's numbers, probably giving something away on offense and getting it back on defense.

    Agree, Particularly since I expect payroll to be down next year. Revenues have to take a big hit this year, and this would be one time where I wouldn't really complain about ownership dropping payroll. 

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    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,320

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

     

    Agree, Particularly since I expect payroll to be down next year. Revenues have to take a big hit this year, and this would be one time where I wouldn't really complain about ownership dropping payroll. 

    At the same time, if other owners are conservative about 2021 payroll, a willingness to spend -- even just on short-term deals -- could really land some good players this offseason.

     

    But I would be surprised if we invested in outfielders, or arguably any position players other than re-signing Cruz and maybe finding replacements for Marwin and Adrianza.

     

    Trevor Bauer is obviously a top target on the pitching side. Tanaka? Taijuan Walker? Some bounceback candidates...

     

    https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/03/2020-21-mlb-free-agents.html

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