Mississippi State Baseball: Brent Rooker Drafted in First Round by Minnesota Twins

Mississippi State’s Brent Rooker is heading to the Minnesota Twins after one of the most impressive individual seasons in SEC baseball history.

Clanga!

The reigning SEC Player of the Year and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Year will be playing ball for the Minnesota Twins organization.

The Minnesota Twins drafted Rooker with the 35th pick of the 2017 MLB Draft.

Everything comes full circle for Brent Rooker. Last year, the Twins selected Rooker in the 38th round of the 2016 MLB Draft. However, Rooker decided to return for another season in Starkville to help make history with his teammates.

That was a smart decision, to say the least.

Brent Rooker had a season for the ages en route to winning SEC Player of the Year honors and leading the Bulldogs to another Super Regionals appearance. He became the first Bulldog in program history to ever be named SEC Player of the Year.

Related Story: Rooker wins SEC Player of the Year

Rooker’s stats speak for themselves. He put the college baseball world on notice from the jump and never looked back on his way to leading the entire conference with his 23 home runs, 82 RBI, and batting .387. In fact, his impressive season makes Brent Rooker the first SEC player ever to crush over 20 home runs, hit 30 doubles, and drive in 75 or more runs. Wow.

The Minnesota Twins are getting a player that will do whatever it takes to help his team win. Earlier this season, coach Cannizaro asked Brent Rooker to play first base for the Bulldogs and he accepted the challenge. Rooker also experimented on the mound during the SEC Tournament. Although the Twins drafted Rooker to play in the outfield, his versatility and will to win can only help him as he pushes his way up to the Big League.

It was a pleasure watching one of the best players in program history. Good luck in Minnesota!