BRENT ROOKER NEWS

Twins mailbag: Alternate realities, trade shockers, Nick Gordon or Brent Rooker, Jhoan Duran hurt and spin rate witch hunts Plus thoughts on the Twins' biggest offseason blunders, the best food at Target Field and why payroll is no longer an excuse.

JUNE 21, 2021 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Slow start at Triple-A Rooker is hitting just .213 with a .790 OPS and four home runs in 18 games at Triple-A St. Paul.

Impact Rooker looked in position to be the Opening Day left fielder for the Twins early in spring training, but he didn't have an overly impressive spring training and was bypassed by Kyle Garlick. With top prospects Alex Kirilloff and Trevor Larnach called up to the majors amid several injuries in the Twins outfield, it looks like Rooker may have missed his window to get regular playing time in the majors. A slow start to the season at Triple-A won't help his case.

MAY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

St. Paul Saints slug their way to win No. 1 as Class AAA affiliate to Twins Rob Refsnyder, Trevor Larnoch and Brent Rooker each hit a home run and went a combined 6-for-14 with six RBI to lead the St. Paul Saints to...

MAY 6, 2021 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Twins reinstate Kepler, Garlick from COVID injured list

The Minnesota Twins have reinstated outfielders Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick from the COVID-19 injured list

APRIL 30, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Moves off big-league roster Rooker was optioned to the alternate training site Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

Impact The 26-year-old returned from a neck injury April 20 and went 2-for-18 with a solo homer since being activated from the injured list. Rooker should head to Triple-A St. Paul for the upcoming start of the minor-league campaign. Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick were activated from the COVID-19 injured list after clearing league protocols.

APRIL 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cranks first homer of season Rooker went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 5-3 loss to Cleveland.

Impact Rooker got the Twins on the board in the top of the second inning with a solo homer to center. The 26-year-old was activated from the 10-day IL on April 20 and is now 2-for-21 with the lone home run and one walk through seven contests in 2021.

APRIL 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Indians top Twins 5-3 in 10 innings on Luplow's 2-run homer

Jordan Luplow hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning off Alex Colomé, giving the Cleveland Indians a 5-3 victory over the Minnesota Twins in their series opener

APRIL 27, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heads to bench Saturday Rooker isn't starting Saturday against the Pirates.

Impact Rooker will retreat to the bench for a second straight game after he went 1-for-10 with a double, one walk and five strikeouts in his last three contests. Jake Cave will take over in right field Saturday, batting eighth.

APRIL 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Gets third straight start Rooker will start in right field and bat eighth Wednesday against the Athletics.

Impact He'll be picking up his third consecutive start after playing in both ends of Tuesday's doubleheader loss, going a collective 0-for-6 between the contests. With Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick both on the COVID-19 injured list, Rooker looks like he could end up seeing regular starts in corner outfield in the short term.

APRIL 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Activated from IL Rooker (neck) was activated from the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday's game in Oakland, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Impact The timing worked out well for Rooker, who had been traveling with the team, as Max Kepler was placed on the COVID-19 injured list in a corresponding move, so there should be some playing time available in the short term. Alex Kirilloff was not an option to be promoted, as he is at the team's alternate training site in St. Paul and the team didn't want to fly players to the West Coast commercially during the pandemic. Rooker has six strikeouts in 11 at-bats.

APRIL 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Minnesota's Cruz puts 10-game hit streak on the line against Athletics

Twins, streaking Cruz set for matchup against Athletics

APRIL 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minnesota's Cruz puts 10-game hit streak on the line against Athletics

Twins, streaking Cruz set for matchup against Athletics

APRIL 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Minnesota to visit Oakland

The Oakland Athletics square off against the Minnesota Twins

APRIL 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Shoemaker expected to start for Twins at Angels

The Los Angeles Angels host the Minnesota Twins

APRIL 17, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Heaney scheduled to start for Angels against Twins

The Los Angeles Angels play the Minnesota Twins

APRIL 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins take 5-game slide into matchup with Red Sox

Minnesota is looking to break its five-game losing streak with a win over Boston The Twins are expected to send Michael Pineda to the mound Thursday and the Red Sox will give Garre...

APRIL 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins look to break 3-game slide

Minnesota will try to break its three-game losing streak when the Twins take on Boston

APRIL 14, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Happ expected to start as Twins host Red Sox

The Minnesota Twins host the Boston Red Sox

APRIL 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Seager HR in 9th, Mariners rally late from 6 down, top Twins

Kyle Seager hit his second homer of the game, a three-run drive in the ninth inning to complete the Seattle Mariners’ comeback from a six-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 8-...

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Seager HR in 9th, Mariners rally late from 6 down, top Twins

Kyle Seager hit his second homer of the game, a three-run drive in the ninth inning to complete the Seattle Mariners’ rally from a six-run deficit to beat the Minnesota Twins 8-6

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Nearly ready for sim games Manager Rocco Baldelli said Sunday that Rooker (neck) should begin receiving at-bats in simulated games at the Twins' alternate site in Saint Paul during the upcoming week, Do-Hyou...

Impact Rooker appears to be tracking toward a minimum-length stay on the 10-day injured list, but he's not expected to have a regular role waiting for him in Minnesota once he's reinstated. With third baseman Josh Donaldson (hamstring) seemingly in line to come off the IL on Monday, Luis Arraez will likely shift to left field to handle an everyday gig. Rooker and Jake Cave had previously been vying for at-bats in left.

APRIL 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Shoemaker expected to start as Twins host the Mariners

The Minnesota Twins play the Seattle Mariners

APRIL 11, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Pineda expected to start as Minnesota hosts Seattle

The Minnesota Twins take on the Seattle Mariners

APRIL 10, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Berrios to start home opener for Minnesota against the Mariners

Minnesota hosts Seattle for the 2021 home opener

APRIL 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Twins rally for 3-2 victory over Baddoo, Tigers

Jorge Polanco hit a two-run double in the sixth inning and the Minnesota Twins held off Akil Baddoo and the Detroit Tigers 3-2

APRIL 7, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS