A's Lose Slugger Brent Rooker to IL in Early Setback

Rookie Zack Gelof called up to replace injured DH, as A's adjust lineup without key power bat.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 8:42pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game or action, with sharp, overlapping planes of color representing the dynamic motion and energy of the sport.The A's must find a way to overcome the loss of slugger Brent Rooker to injury as they look to build on last season's playoff run.West Sacramento Today

The Oakland Athletics have placed slugger Brent Rooker on the injured list after he left Thursday's game against the New York Yankees with a Costochondral cartilage injury. Rooker, who has hit at least 30 home runs in each of the past three seasons, will be replaced on the roster by top prospect Zack Gelof as the A's look to adjust their lineup and offensive approach during Rooker's absence.

Why it matters

Rooker has been a key part of the A's lineup since joining the team in 2023, providing much-needed power production. His injury is an early blow to the team's hopes of building on last season's surprising playoff run. How the A's adjust their lineup and offensive strategy in Rooker's absence could be a major factor in determining the team's success this year.

The details

Rooker left Thursday's game against the Yankees in the first inning after a tough swing resulted in a Costochondral cartilage injury. The A's have now placed him on the injured list, with the recovery timeline depending on the severity of the injury - potentially ranging from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. To replace Rooker on the roster, the A's have called up top prospect Zack Gelof from Triple-A Las Vegas. On Friday against the Mets, the A's will use outfielder Carlos Cortes as the designated hitter, batting him eighth in the lineup and adding a fifth left-handed bat. They've also moved leadoff hitter Lawrence Butler up in the order after his strong recent play.

  • Rooker left Thursday's game against the Yankees in the first inning with the injury.
  • The A's placed Rooker on the injured list ahead of Friday's game against the Mets.
  • Zack Gelof has been called up from Triple-A to replace Rooker on the 26-man roster.

The players

Brent Rooker

A slugging designated hitter who has hit at least 30 home runs in each of the past three seasons for the A's.

Zack Gelof

A top prospect in the A's farm system who has been called up to replace Rooker on the 26-man roster.

Carlos Cortes

An A's outfielder who will serve as the designated hitter in Friday's game against the Mets.

Lawrence Butler

The A's leadoff hitter, who has been moved up in the order after a strong recent stretch at the plate.

Mark Kotsay

The manager of the Oakland Athletics.

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What they’re saying

“No Brent Rooker in today's lineup.”

— Jason Burke, Reporter

What’s next

The A's will continue to monitor Rooker's recovery timeline and adjust their lineup and offensive approach accordingly during his absence. The team's ability to weather this early injury setback could be a key factor in their success this season.

The takeaway

Rooker's injury is an early blow to the A's, who will need to find creative ways to replace his power production in the lineup. How the team adjusts its offensive strategy in his absence could determine whether they can build on last year's surprising playoff run.