A team had to be built, but as always, money was tight. Oakland went after players that other teams didn’t pay attention to last offseason. The Rule 5 Draft was an opportunity not to be missed for Oakland, collecting players from other teams who had fallen on major league rosters.
There were two fielders that Oakland saved in the process: outfielder Brent Rooker (29) and infielder Ryan Noda (27). Both players had not been able to secure a place in their former team. Oakland quickly recruited Rooker when Kansas City announced a waiver, and in the Rule 5 Draft, they nominated Noda to fill the first base spot.
Rooker was drafted by Minnesota in 2017 and made his major league debut in 2020. Expectations were raised for his good performance in his debut season, but after a batting average of 0.201 in 58 games in 2021, hardships began. Shortly after the start of the 2022 season, he wore a San Diego uniform in a trade centered on Chris Padak and Tyler Rodgers먹튀검증.
However, in San Diego, he only played in two games, and was eventually traded to Kansas City before the trade deadline, but he did not find a place in Kansas City either. He only had a batting average of 0.160 in 14 games after wearing a Kansas City uniform, so leaving the 40-man roster may have been a given. Oakland paid attention to such a rooker.
Noda was a Toronto draft player but traded to the Dodgers at the time of the Ross Stripling trade. He couldn’t break through the Dodgers’ thick layer of players. In the process, he wore an Oakland uniform through the Rule 5 draft. However, both players are making great strides this year.
Rooker has played 31 games until the 11th (Korean time) and is making an outstanding performance with a batting average of 0.317, 10 homers, 26 RBIs, and OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage) of 1.084. He is currently one of the best hitters in the American League. Noda also has a batting average of 0.244, 3 homers, 10 RBIs and an OPS of 0.885 in 35 games. He emerged as an ambush in the race for the American League Rookie of the Year.
Oakland, the originator of ‘Moneyball’, is a club that values players’ on-base percentage. The records of the two players show Oakland’s taste. Rooker’s on-base percentage this season is 0.430. Although Noda’s batting average is low at 0.244, he picked up 26 walks in 35 games, bringing his on-base percentage to 0.429. Both players are in the top five of the American League on-base percentage rankings.
San Diego and the Dodgers also took notice of the talent of the two players. If it wasn’t for that, there wouldn’t have been anything to recruit him through trade. But there was no room for two players on two teams loaded with superstars. It was difficult to get into the 40-man roster.
In the process, the two players were let go, and Auckland’s pioneering plan led to an opportunity to shine again. Although Oakland is having a gloomy season in many ways, the discovery of the two players is expected to confirm that Moneyball’s potential is alive and to help the team’s management in the future.