Brent Rooker blasted 17 homers in the 2025 Home Run Derby but lost by 0.08 ft. Dive into his tiebreaker frustration, trade rumors, and All‑Star Game insights.
🧭 Background & Derby Entry
- Brent Rooker, Oakland A’s power-hitting DH/outfielder, earned a spot as an American League All-Star reserve and chose to compete in the Home Run Derby on July 14 at Truist Park, ahead of the 2025 MLB All-Star Game .
- Rooker joined other sluggers like Cal Raleigh, Junior Caminero, Oneil Cruz, Byron Buxton, James Wood, Matt Olson, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. in the eight-player bracket .
🆚 Round 1 Tiebreaker Controversy
- Rooker hit 17 home runs, tying Cal Raleigh but lost the tiebreak due to Raleigh’s longest homer being 470.61 ft vs Rooker’s 470.53 ft, a razor-thin 0.08 ft difference .
- He criticized MLBfor not displaying decimal distances live and noted he only received 38 pitches instead of 40—blaming confusion over pitch allotment .
- Describing it as a “great time,” Rooker still felt the lack of transparency hurt his chances .
📰 Media & Peer Reactions
- Fans and analysts criticized the tiebreaker rule as “nonsensical” .
- Rooker called for decimal figures to be displayed live, not after the fact .
- Despite the debate, he praised Raleigh and stood by “rules are rules” .
🏟️ Trade Rumors Post‑Derby
- Following the Derby, reports surfaced that the San Francisco Giants eyed Rooker as a mid-season acquisition—valuing his power bat and clubhouse leadership—even amid trade rumors dating back years .
- Rooker downplayed trade chatter, emphasizing his focus on daily performance with the A’s .
🏅 Derby Outcomes & Bracket Summary
| Round | Player | HRs | Notables |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | Rooker, Raleigh | 17 | Lost tiebreak by 0.08 ft |
| Semifinals | – | – | Rooker eliminated |
| Final | – | – | Won by Cal Raleigh |
| Derby Winner | Cal Raleigh | 54 | First catcher & switch-hitter to win |
📈 What This Means for Rooker
- His 17 HRs, near-advancement, and outspoken stance boosted his All-Star credibility .
- Trade interest from the Giants indicates his rising profile beyond the A’s .
- Rooker now returns to regular season with renewed energy and focus—looking to complement his power numbers (20 HR, 54 RBI before Derby) .
📝 Derby Format & Viewing Info
- Home Run Derby format: 40 pitches or 3 minutes in Rds 1, then 27 pitches/2 minutes in later rounds; ties resolved by longest HR, then swing-off .
- Broadcast: Live on ESPN, streamed via ESPN+, MLB.tv, Fubo, Sling, etc. Derby aired July 14 at 8 pm ET, preceding the July 15 All-Star Game .