50 Brent Rooker LF

Rooker went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored Tuesday in the Twins' 6-5 loss to the Tigers in 11 innings.

Rooker picked up his fifth straight start Tuesday and gave the Twins little reason to take him out of the lineup; he's now posted a 1.118 OPS since stepping into an everyday role following the trade of Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old will stick in the starting nine for Wednesday's series finale, manning left field and batting second.

Rooker went 1-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's 6-5 extra-inning win over the Tigers.

Getting the start at DH and hitting second, Rooker took Matt Manning deep to lead off the sixth inning. The 26-year-old rookie has gone yard in back-to-back games, and while he only has three hits in 15 at-bats since his promotion late last week, all three have gone for extra bases (the two homers and a double). Rooker should see regular playing time down the stretch for the Twins with Alex Kirilloff (wrist) done for the year and Nelson Cruz now in Tampa Bay.

Rooker went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's 6-2 loss to the Angels.

Rooker cranked a solo home run off Jaime Barria in the first inning. After Max Kepler led off the game with a long ball, Rooker followed it up with one of his own. It was only his second home run of the season, though it came in just his 11th game. The 26-year-old is slashing .122/.143/.317 in 42 plate appearances. He will receive more playing time with the Twins after they recently traded Nelson Cruz to Tampa Bay.

Rooker will start in left field and bat second Sunday against the Angels.

After being called up from Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Rooker started at designated hitter in the first two games of the weekend, going 1-for-8 with a double and a run scored. He'll be filling in as an outfielder Sunday with Trevor Larnach (hand) banged up, but Rooker should settle in as the Twins' primary DH following the trade of Nelson Cruz to the Rays.

Rooker was recalled from Triple-A St. Paul and will bat sixth as the designated hitter Friday against the Angels.

The 26-year-old will fill the vacant roster spot created by the Twins' trade of Nelson Cruz, and he'll also receive first crack at taking over as the designated hitter. Rooker appeared in eight games for Minnesota early in the season, going only 3-for-29. He's spent most of the year at the Triple-A level, where he has a .908 OPS and 19 homers in 61 contests. Rooker should have a regular role between the outfield and designated hitter with Cruz out of the picture, Alex Kirilloff (wrist) out for the season and the Twins out of playoff contention.

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

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.

Rooker was optioned to the alternate training site Friday, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.

The 26-year-old returned from a neck injury April 20 and had gone 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.

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

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.

Rooker isn't starting Saturday against the Pirates.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

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.

Rooker was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a cervical strain, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Rooker was slated to start in left field against the Tigers on Wednesday, but he's apparently dealing with a neck injury that will force him to miss at least 10 days. Left-hander Brandon Waddell's contract was selected by Minnesota in a corresponding move. It's not yet clear when Rooker will be able to return.

Rooker started in left field and went 1-for-6 in Monday's win over Detroit.

It was curious that Rooker got a start in left field before Kyle Garlick, who initially beat him out for a reserve outfield spot in spring training. It was likely a spot start for Rooker, but there is a chance that he could platoon in left field with Jake Cave when Byron Buxton returns from an illness.

Rooker was recalled from Minnesota's alternate training site Saturday, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Rooker lost out to Kyle Garlick for the final reserve outfielder spot in spring training, but he could figure into the mix in left field with Josh Donaldson on the injured list with a hamstring injury. Luis Arraez is starting at third base Saturday with Jake Cave in left field. It's possible Rooker could get starts in left field or at first base and even platoon with Cave if he gets hot, but he could also quickly return to the minors when Donaldson is ready to return.

Rooker has been optioned to Minnesota's alternate training site, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

This is a surprise since Rooker appeared set to platoon in right field after the Twins sent Alex Kirilloff to the minors to begin the season. Rooker hit .243 (19-for-80) with three home runs this spring. He showed he's healthy after his 2020 season ended in mid-September due to a fractured right forearm that required surgery. He'll likely be called up sooner rather than later, but his window to win regular playing time may close quickly if the Twins call up Alex Kirilloff ahead of him. With Rooker sent to the minors, Kyle Garlick will likely begin the season in a platoon with Jake Cave in left field, with Luis Arraez also getting starts as well.

Rooker is in the mix to start in left field after Alex Kirilloff was sent to the minors, Phil Miller of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. Rooker started in right field in Tuesday's spring training loss to Pittsburgh and went 0-for-3. He's hitting .320 (8-for-25) with a home run this spring.

The Twins haven't revealed their plans, but a platoon of Jake Cave and Rookier, with Luis Arraez also getting some starts, seems like the most likely strategy until Kirilloff is recalled for everyday duty. Rooker will likely be in the mix given his strong spring; he's shown he's healthy after his 2020 season ended in mid-September due to a fractured right forearm that required surgery, and he's one of the few right-handed bats among the outfielders likely to make the final roster.

Rooker went 3-for-3 with a double in Sunday's spring training win over Boston. He's hitting .400 (6-for-15) with a home run this spring.

Rooker is competing for a bench role this spring. He could begin the season in a platoon in right field if the Twins send Alex Kirilloff to the minors, as he's one of the few right-handed bats among the Twins' outfielders. Rooker is showing he's healthy after his 2020 season ended in mid-September due to a fractured right forearm that required surgery.

Rooker (forearm) will start in left field and will bat cleanup Monday in the Twins' Grapefruit League game against the Rays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Rooker's rookie season came to a quick end in mid-September, when he was diagnosed with a fractured right forearm that required surgery. The 26-year-old was cleared to resume swinging a bat early in the offseason, and the Twins' decision to use him in the field rather than at designated hitter this early in spring training suggests he's already completed his throwing program. Rooker will get the opportunity to compete for a bench role with the big club during spring training, but since he still has three minor-league options remaining, there's a good chance he begins the season at Triple-A St. Paul, where he would be able to play on an everyday basis.

Rooker (forearm) was cleared to resume swinging a bat Monday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Rooker appears to be making good progress since requiring surgery in late September to address a fractured right forearm. The 26-year-old will likely gradually ramp up the intensity of his workouts throughout the winter with the aim of receiving full clearance ahead of spring training. He'll likely be competing for a spot on the Twins' Opening Day roster in 2021 as a right-handed bench bat.