Oakland Athletics star Brent Rooker was one of the few bright spots of the team last season, hitting a team-high 30 home runs in his first season as a full-time starter. Given his talent as a power hitter, he was asked by a college student on social media how to prepare for a student Home Run Derby.
Brooks Bryant, a Mississippi State student, reached out to Rooker on Tuesday ahead of a student Home Run Derby, asking him how to hit a home run.
“How do I hit a home run,?” wrote Bryant on Twitter/X.
@Brent_Rooker12 how do I hit Homerun
— Brooks Bryant (@brooksbryant10) February 6, 2024
Surprisingly, Rooker responded to Bryant’s question, hilariously telling him to “close his eyes and swing hard”.
“I just close my eyes and swing as hard as I can and sometimes it works,”
I just close my eyes and swing as hard as I can and sometimes it works https://t.co/G08vjFEVaX
— Brent Rooker (@Brent_Rooker12) February 6, 2024
This funny response from Rooker garnered a response from MLB’s social media page, saying that this strategy worked 30 times last season.
It worked 30 times last season, @Brent_Rooker12! 😅 pic.twitter.com/YbhOzIRq20
— MLB (@MLB) February 6, 2024
Rooker later cleared the air, saying that he doesn’t actually close his eyes when he swings, even if it may seem like that at times.
“Guys I don’t actually do this although I realize that sometimes it probably looks like I do.”
Guys I don’t actually do this although I realize that sometimes it probably looks like I do https://t.co/rfKHSbwN2Q
— Brent Rooker (@Brent_Rooker12) February 7, 2024
Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like Rooker’s advice to Bryant ended up working out. Bryant posted a video showing him striking out with some sad music in the background.
I tried @Brent_Rooker12 https://t.co/wpztwnUTyt pic.twitter.com/QyelAgPkXG
— Brooks Bryant (@brooksbryant10) February 7, 2024
I guess it goes to show that there is a reason that the professionals like Rooker are indeed professionals…
