Video: Rooker Named SEC Player Of The Week For Second Straight Week

STARKVILLE, Miss. (Miss. St. Athletics) — For the third time this season and the second time in as many weeks, Mississippi State junior Brent Rooker has been named Southeastern Conference Player of the Week following a career week at the plate.

Rooker was also named a National Player of the Week by Collegiate Baseball and is also in the mix for USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award Gold Standard Performance of the Week, voted on by fans.

During his five-game week, Rooker hit .625 (10-for-16) with nine runs scored, one double, six home runs, 13 RBIs and five walks in addition to being hit by pitch three times. He notched 29 total bases for a 1.813 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage and helped lead the Bulldogs to a series win vs. No. 8 Kentucky.

Rooker becomes the first back-to-back SEC Player of the Week since Georgia’s Gordon Beckham in 2008 and the first Diamond Dawg to accomplish the feat since Rex Buckner in 1992.

On Wednesday, Rooker hit two home runs, including the walk-off winner in the 10th inning, and then followed it up on Saturday with a three-home run game, making him the first Bulldog to accomplish the feat since 2010.

The SEC leader in nine offensive categories (batting average, slugging, on-base percentage, hits, RBIs, doubles, home runs, total bases and stolen bases), the 2017 Midseason All-American also collected SEC Player of the Week honors on Feb. 27 and April 3 this season.

Rooker and the rest of the Bulldogs will close out a six-game homestand on Tuesday, April 11 for a 6:30 p.m. CT midweek vs. Mississippi Valley State.