Former ECS star Brent Rooker picked by Twins in first round of MLB Draft

The Commercial Appeal

Former Evangelical Christian School standout Brent Rooker was selected in the first round (35th overall pick) by the Minnesota Twins on Monday in the MLB Draft.

Brent Rooker scores the first run of the game as Mississippi State takes on LSU in the NCAA Super Regional at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, LA.- Saturday, June 10, 2017.

Rooker was a former three-sport star at ECS. The Mississippi State outfielder led the Bulldogs in virtually every offensive category this season including average (.387), hits (96), runs scored (60), doubles (30), home runs (23), RBIs (82) and was tied in triples (three).

Rooker is a finalist for the Dick Howser Trophy and a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

"The season that we had was worth every second of coming back," said Rooker in a press release. "All of the hours I've put in grinding in the cage and on the field just to improve my game and improve myself as a player and a leader has paid off now."

Rooker was named the National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball and Mississippi State's first SEC Player of the Year.

"I couldn't be more excited for, first, the season we had, and then to get started with the Minnesota Twins organization," Rooker said. "My goal was never to just get drafted. My goal has always been to make it to the big leagues. For me, this is the first step in a long process to reach my ultimate goal."