photo by: Mike Gunnoe/Special to the Journal-World

Kansas senior Michael Brooks fields a ground ball against Cincinnati at Hoglund Ballpark Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Michael Brooks, a versatile infielder who spent three years at Kansas as one of the foundational pieces of Dan Fitzgerald’s rebuild, has signed as an undrafted free agent with the Athletics, KU announced on Wednesday afternoon.

Brooks played primarily at second base during his fifth and final collegiate season after starting at third each of the previous two years. As a redshirt senior, he served as one of the Jayhawks’ veteran leaders on a roster filled with newcomers and batted .274 with an .890 OPS, hitting nine home runs with 38 RBIs.

Brooks was noted for his plate discipline, and his 29 walks in league play led the Big 12; his 54 on the season were second only to teammate Brady Ballinger. He also helped turn 15 double plays as a fielder.

The native of Wellington, Florida, started his career at Arkansas in the fall of 2020 before transferring to UCF, where he remained through the end of the 2022 campaign. He committed to transfer to KU in July 2022, not long after Fitzgerald took the job as the Jayhawks’ coach.

Brooks’ best offensive season was 2024, in which he at one point went on an 18-game hitting streak. He hit .331 that year prior to suffering a season-ending broken hand. Fitzgerald has said he believed Brooks was well on his way to being drafted and signing following that season if not for the injury. Instead, he’ll be beginning his professional career a year later via the undrafted route.

The infielder also received recognition for his community service during his time at KU, including a selection in May to a nine-member finalist group for the Tony Gwynn Trophy. Brooks started a program called Hits for Teachers in which he donated some of his own money to the Lawrence Schools Foundation, $20 for each hit and $40 for each home run, over the course of his time with the Jayhawks.

Brooks is the first KU player headed to the A’s as a rookie since they selected Devin Foyle in the 17th round in 2018. He is the fourth Jayhawk to this point with a chance to turn pro this summer.