The Home Run Derby brings excitement to the baseball calendar, but for participants, it’s pure pressure. Nobody wants to go zero-for-everything on that stage.
The biggest factor that could make or break a slugger’s night? Their pitcher.
Batters need someone with stamina who can consistently locate pitches in their wheelhouse. Brent Rooker, making his first Derby appearance, is bringing in his childhood hitting coach to throw to him.
The Coach Who’s Been There All Along
Rooker will be taking swings off Joe Caruso, his hitting coach from age 9 through high school. The A’s slugger grew up near Memphis, and every offseason when he heads home, he links up with Caruso for batting practice sessions, according to MLB.com.
The pair had talked about this scenario before. Rooker always promised that if he made the Derby field, Caruso would get the call.
Now he’s making good on that promise.
“He’s probably seen me hit in the cage more than anybody and has thrown to me more than anybody, so it should be a good relationship out there,” Rooker said. “Being able to make that call and tell him we’re going to do it was pretty cool.”
Long-Term Partnership
Caruso grew up in Lock Haven, Pa., but now lives in Memphis where he’s a founder and executive with East Coast Sox, a training program for young players aiming for college or pro ball. He first worked with Rooker as a batting coach when the future big leaguer was 9 or 10, then continued coaching him through various East Coast Sox travel teams.
They stayed connected through Rooker’s Mississippi State career. Caruso was there for the draft party when the Twins took him in the first round in 2017. Through minor league stops in San Diego and Kansas City, then finally breaking through with the A’s, Caruso remained part of Rooker’s circle.
The commitment runs deep. Rooker has relocated his family to Memphis during the offseason specifically to keep working with Caruso.
Caruso’s track record speaks for itself. While he’ll be throwing to Rooker at the Derby, he’ll also get to reunite with Bobby Witt Jr. and Pete Alonso at the All-Star Game – both former clients.
Comfort in Familiar Territory
The 2025 Derby takes place in Atlanta, putting Rooker far from his A’s family in an away ballpark. When you’re facing that kind of pressure, familiarity becomes everything.
That’s where Caruso comes in. He’s been teaching Rooker how to hit since the slugger was 10 years old.
This wasn’t a last-minute decision either. Rooker and Caruso have discussed this scenario for years, with the hitter always promising his longtime coach would get the nod if the opportunity came.
In 2025, he’s keeping that word. Sometimes the best choice isn’t the flashiest – it’s the one that feels like home.
