General manager David Forst announced on Friday that designated hitter Brent Rooker, the offensive anchor of the Sacramento-bound A’s, underwent surgery on Tuesday to “clean up” a right forearm extensor injury.

Forst said that Rooker, who was never fully healthy during the regular season, should be 100 percent by spring training.

“Rook was on the training table every day,” Forst said. “He made sure he got out there and got his swings, and he was absolutely the anchor in the middle of the lineup that we’ve been looking for, really, since K.D. (Khris Davis) was doing what he was doing.”

Rooker only played 14 games in the outfield this past season, the last being on May 30, compared to 131 games as a designated hitter. In 2023, by contrast, Rooker played 60 games in the outfield.

Despite the lingering forearm ailment, Rooker ended his season with career-highs in homers (39), RBIs (112), runs scored (82), steals (11), batting average (.293), OPS (.927) and WAR (5.6, per Baseball Reference). Rooker and right fielder Lawrence Butler, who broke out and finished with 22 homers and 18 steals, formed one of baseball’s most dynamic offensive duos in the second half.

— Justice delos Santos

NHL

Devils beat Sabres in NHL opener in Prague >> Paul Cotter had a goal and an assist in his Devils debut as New Jersey beat the Buffalo Sabres 4-1 in the NHL regular-season opener played in the Czech Republic capital.

After former NHL great Jaromir Jagr, who still plays in the Czech league, dropped a ceremonial puck, Stefan Noesen became the first scorer of the season 8:39 in to put New Jersey up. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic made it 2-0, and then Nico Hischier scored early into the second before Owen Power got the Sabres on the scoreboard midway through the third. Cotter made it 4-1 on an open net.

The teams’ series of games Friday and today is part of the NHL global series. Two more international games will be played in Tampere, Finland, on Nov. 1-2 when defending Florida faces Dallas.

WNBA

Collier leads Lynx past Sun in Game 3 >> Napheesa Collier scored 26 points and the Minnesota Lynx beat the Connecticut Sun 90-81 on the road to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 semifinal series.

Game 4 is Sunday in Connecticut with the Lynx looking to advance to the WNBA Finals for the first time since 2017.

Brionna Jones, who had just eight points combined in the first two games, led Connecticut with 21.

Golf

Hossler leads PGA’s Sanderson Farms >> Beau Hossler did his part on another day of low scoring at the Sanderson Farms Championship in Jackson Miss., missing only one green for an 8-under 64 to take a one-shot lead into the week as he chases his first PGA Tour victory.

Daniel Berger, out of golf for 18 months with a back injury, had another round of seven birdies and no bogeys for a 65 and was one shot behind.

The group two back included David Skinns (71), who shot a course-record 60 Thursday.

College football

Raiders’ Pierce hit with show-cause penalty >> Raiders coach Antonio Pierce has been hit with an eight-year show-cause order by the NCAA for violations during his time as an assistant coach at Arizona State.

Former Arizona State staffer Anthony Garnett also incurred a five-year show-cause penalty, according to a statement released by the NCAA Thursday.

The penalties primarily stem from impermissible contact with 35 recruits during the roughly one-year COVID-19 dead period.

“In arriving at an eight-year show-cause order for Pierce, the panel emphasized his role as the ringleader in orchestrating the recruiting violations,” the NCAA report said.

The NCAA investigation revealed Pierce provided false or misleading information and was unwilling to provide his financial records.

Pierce left Arizona State in 2022 and was hired as the Raiders linebackers coach. He was named the Raiders permanent coach in January.