As fantasy baseball managers begin their search for high-upside bats in 2025, Brent Rooker emerges as an extremely promising target. The Athletics slugger is coming off a strong 2024 season, and a deep dive into his metrics suggests that he can potentially be a major fantasy asset in the upcoming season. While his strikeout rate is cause for concern to some, Rooker’s ability to barrel the ball, generate elite exit velocity, and maintain a respectable walk rate makes him a player to seriously consider.
Brent Rooker’s Career Year in 2024
Rooker played in 145 games last season, finishing with a .293 batting average, 39 home runs, and an impressive .927 OPS. These numbers are all career highs for Rooker (not including his seven-game rookie season). A glance at his expected stats on Baseball Savant confirms that this wasn’t a fluke — his xwOBA (.380), xBA (.266), and xSLG (.557) all reinforce that his power production is legitimate. In fact, his expected slugging percentage ranked in the 97th percentile of MLB hitters, solidifying his status as an elite power threat.
Digging deeper, Rooker’s 16.6% barrel rate (97th percentile) and 49.6% hard-hit rate (92nd percentile) highlight his ability to make consistent, loud contact. His average exit velocity sat at an excellent 91.9 mph (89th percentile), proving that when he connects, the ball jumps off his bat.
Is Rooker’s Plate Discipline a Concern?
Despite his elite power, some fantasy managers may hesitate to select Rooker due to his 28.8% strikeout rate (10th percentile) and 34.1% whiff rate (5th percentile). While it is true that he swings and misses more than most, there are reasons to believe that he is not an all-or-nothing hitter. His 31.0% chase rate shows some signs of improvement, ranking in the 30th percentile, a price fantasy managers should have little resistance to pay. More importantly, his solid 9.6% walk rate sits in the 69th percentile, proving that he has the patience to take a walk when needed.
Rooker may be far from a contact hitter, but his ability to draw walks offsets some of the strikeout concerns. Fantasy managers in OBP leagues should take note — Rooker isn’t as much of a boom-or-bust bat as his whiff rate might suggest.
Rooker’s 2025 Outlook
With Rooker and the Athletics recently agreeing to a five-year, $60 million contract extension, the A’s strongest bat is locked into an everyday role in the heart of the lineup. While the A’s offense isn’t the most formidable, Rooker should still have plenty of opportunities to drive in runs as their primary power bat.
Projections for 2025 suggest another strong season, with a reasonable expectation of 35+ home runs, a .260-.270 batting average, and an above-average on-base percentage (OBP) due to his solid walk rate. Rooker’s fantasy value will be particularly high in leagues that reward extra-base hits and OPS.
Fantasy Recommendation
Rooker profiles as a mid to high-round pick who offers elite offensive potential and the potential to hit 40+ home runs. His hard-hit ability and barrel rate make him a reliable power source, and his respectable BB% adds another dimension to his value. Fantasy managers looking for a power bat outside the early rounds should strongly consider adding Rooker to their rosters in 2025.