"Salvador Perez is incredibly laid-back until confrontation happens" - Brent Rooker justifies picking Royals captain as his favorite teammate

The Athletics outfielder Brent Rooker enjoyed an excellent 2024 campaign even though the team endured another difficult year on and off the field. Rooker was unfortunate to miss out on the All-Star Game, although he picked up a Silver Slugger at the end of the season.

Brent Rooker was selected in the first round by the Minnesota Twins as the 35th overall pick of the 2017 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2020 before getting traded to the San Diego Padres two years later. He was traded again that same year to the Kansas City Royals but was DFA'd by the team. Rooker then joined the Athletics in 2023 and has proven to be a brilliant signing.

On Friday, on the Chris Vernon Showfor Grind House Media, Rooker named Salvador Perez as his favorite teammate. [1:31:22 - 1:32:14]

"I want to have my best friends, [yet] I want to give an answer that's [about] somebody that I'm not talking to regularly, but I just respect as a teammate," Rooker said. "I think Salvador Perez is my favorite teammate. Incredible player. He's upbeat. He's happy. He's smiling all the time. He's a great leader.

"He is incredibly laid-back and low-key until some kind of confrontation happens," he added. "Then he's the first guy, the first one defending his guys all the time. I was his teammate for like a month and a half. I saw that during that brief time. I see that playing against him, and see him, watching him play. I think Salvie deserves all the respect in the world. He's awesome."

Salvador Perez is a nine-time All-Star and is widely regarded as the finest catcher of his generation. The 34-year-old has collected five Gold Gloves and five Silver Slugger Awards over his 13-year major league career. He won the 2015 World Series with the Royals and was named MVP of the Fall Classic.

Superb 2024 season for Brent Rooker

Brent Rooker posted his best league season in 2024 (Image Source: Imagn)

Brent Rooker earned his maiden All-Star selection with the Oakland Athletics in 2023 after a hot start to the season, but his production dwindled as the year progressed. He was unlucky to get omitted from the Midsummer Classic this year even though he had a much better campaign while remaining productive throughout the season.

Rooker batted .293/.365/.562 for the Athletics in 2024 with a 165 OPS+ and 5.6 bWAR. He also posted 67 extra-base hits, including career-high figures of 39 home runs and 112 RBIs.