STARKVILLE — Auburn coach Butch Thompson only needed to see the Mississippi State baseball team in person to determine the reason for its success.
After the Tigers met the Bulldogs in a three-game series in April, Thompson listed those reasons, including the most
obvious.
“Brent Rooker is the best hitter on planet Earth,” Thompson said.
Thompson might have been exaggerating, but calling Rooker one of the college baseball’s best hitters has
become a widely held belief.
Rooker added to the consensus Thursday when he was named a first-team All-American by Baseball America and was named a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy.
Rooker already has been named a first-team All-American and the National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball, Player of the Year in the Southeastern Conference, and the Ferriss Trophy winner, which goes to the best baseball player in the state of Mississippi.
Rooker also is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award, which is given annually annually to the best amateur baseball player in the United States. Created by USA Baseball and sponsored by the Major League Baseball Players Association, it was first presented in 1978.
The Dick Howser Trophy, which is the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, is the annual national award for the outstanding collegiate baseball player. The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) votes for the recipient based on nominees’ performance, character, leadership, and courage — all features to be emulated in memory of the late Dick Howser. It will be presented on Saturday, June 17, at the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
Rooker will work to bolster his credentials for the awards this weekend when No. 20 MSU (40-25) takes on No. 4 LSU (46-17) in the NCAA tournament’s Super Regionals in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Game 1 of the best-of-three series will be at 8 p.m. Saturday (ESPN2).
“Having someone like that on your team is really huge for us this year in having a young team,” MSU pitcher Konnor Pilkington said. “For someone to come and have a standup year — right before the draft, too — it’s just awesome.”
Frankie Piliere, the National Prospect Writer for D1baseball.com, told The Dispatch he has heard from Major League scouts who have been impressed with Rooker’s transformation from last season.
“Every year you see teams late in the first round looking for polished college bats,” Piliere said. “Look around the country. He’s really one of your better options for that.”
The Minnesota Twins drafted Rooker in the 38th round last year after he hit .324 as a sophomore. But Rooker had raised his slugging pecentage from .578 to .827. He also leads the Southeastern Conference in batting average (.395), home runs (23), and RBIs (82). Rooker is one pace to join MSU legend Rafael Palmeiro as a winner of the league’s Triple Crown.
Rooker’s claim to the batting average title should be safe. LSU’s Greg Deichmann likely will be Rooker’s primary competition for the home run and RBI titles. Deichmann trails Rooker in home runs by three and in RBIs by 13. If MSU’s first meeting against LSU is any indication, Deichmann won’t get many opportunities. MSU walked Deichmann 10 times in three games in the regular season.
Follow Dispatch sports writer Brett Hudson on Twitter @Brett_Hudson
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