Athletics’ Brent Rooker lands on IL with oblique strain

The Athletics placed Designated Hitter Brent Rooker on the 10-day injured list Friday after an MRI confirmed a right oblique strain, ahead of the team’s three-game series opener at the New York Mets. The injury occurred in the first inning of Thursday’s 1-0 win against the New York Yankees when Rooker fouled off a changeup.

The move ends Rooker’s streak of 214 consecutive games, the fourth-longest by the franchise since 2000. His last missed game came on Aug. 15, 2024. He became just the fifth Athletics player since 2000 to appear in all 162 games in 2025, joining names like Marcus Semien (2019).

Rooker’s absence will be keenly felt given his production last season, when he hit .262 with 30 home runs and 89 RBIs, earning an All-Star selection and participating in the Home Run Derby, where he hit 17 home runs but lost a tiebreaker by less than an inch. He is currently batting .146 with two home runs and eight RBIs this season, with seven RBIs coming in his previous three games.

Oblique injuries typically require four to six weeks of recovery, though timelines vary. A comparable case came this past season when catcher Shea Langeliers returned in just over three weeks after a similar injury. Manager Mark Kotsay did not provide a firm return timeline, but Rooker is likely to miss multiple weeks.

To fill the roster spot, the Athletics recalled Zack Gelof from Triple-A Las Vegas. Gelof has been productive in 11 games, hitting .366 with a 1.251 OPS, four home runs, three doubles, and 10 RBIs while also expanding his role to all three outfield positions.

Additional at-bats are expected for players like Carlos Cortes, while lineup adjustments could involve Jeff McNeil and Lawrence Butler.