The 2024 MLB season wrapped-up at the end of October, and we're seeing awards doled out recognizing the best players from the year. Former Mississippi State baseball slugger Brent Rooker is one of those players taking home hardware.
Former Mississippi State baseball star Brent Rooker wins Silver Slugger Award
Diamond Dawg legend Brent Rooker put together the best year of his professional career in 2024. Rooker was controversially snubbed from the American League All-Star team, but he's still been recognized for his stellar play this season.
Would you Rook at that?! 🤩 Congratulations to Brent Rooker!! #SilverSluggerAward pic.twitter.com/aqXje50ErA
— Athletics (@Athletics) November 12, 2024
On Tuesday, Brent Rooker was announced as one of 2024's Silver Slugger Award winners. Rooker was the American League's winner at the designated hitter spot. The former Bulldog had a huge year at the plate for the (now formerly) Oakland Athletics, batting .293 with 39 home runs and 112 RBI. He posted an OPS of .927.
Brent Rooker joins elite company with Silver Slugger Award win
Brent Rooker becomes just the fourth Diamond Dawg to win a Silver Slugger Award. He joins Mississippi State baseball behemoths Will Clark and Rafael Palmeiro and current Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe, Rooker's old teammate in Starkville, on the list.
It's taken Rooker a few years to get going in the big leagues since being drafted as a 1st-rounder back in 2017 MLB Draft, but over these last two years with the Athletics he's cemented his place as one of the best hitters in all of baseball.
That's not at all a shock to those of us who had to pleasure of watching him destroy baseballs for the Diamond Dawgs on his way to become just the second ever Triple Crown winner in the SEC. With an All-Star selection and a Silver Slugger Award in his first two full seasons in the majors, he's on his way to a storied career.