Next for shortstop is leadership role
MESA, Ariz. — It doesn’t take much to be the longest-tenured A’s player, and that distinction goes to shortstop Marcus Semien. All of three years. On some teams, three years means you’re a kid. Look across the bay. On the A’s, it makes you a veteran. In Semien’s case, it’s more than that.
Against the backdrop of top middle-infield prospects Franklin Barreto and Jorge Mateo in training camp, corner infielders Matt Olson and Matt Chapman seemingly on the verge of stardom
and several young pitchers competing for jobs, Semien is evolving into a team leader.
If a team leader means showing up on time, constantly working to improve, expressing the need to win, being available to work with younger players and even being a standup guy with the media, Semien fits the bill.
“Obviously, as the shortstop, he’s like the captain out there, trying to help us out in every situation,” Barreto said. “We look toward him to show us the way.”
Mateo added, “He’s been great, really helpful. I’m proud of the fact I have a teammate like that to help me.”
Semien, who’s 11-for-22 and has hit safely in all eight games he has played, is open to a leadership role but points out he has had his own mentor in second baseman Jed Lowrie, who technically has more service time in Oakland, but it’s separated by the season he spent in Houston in 2015.
Lowrie is in the final year of his contract and perhaps one day will be replaced by Barreto — who’s further along than Mateo — while management sees Semien as a longer-term fit, having improved defensively and hit 27 home runs in 2016.
A broken wrist limited him to 85 games last season (he hit 10 homers). He returned in the second half and helped the A’s finish strong — 17 wins in the final 24 games and a .571 winning percentage in September, Oakland’s best month since July 2014.
Asked what made him most proud about coming off the injury, Semien gave a response that was team-oriented, which team leaders do.
“I’m more proud of how we finished as a team,” he said. “We scored a lot of runs and played well. There was less pressure on the pitchers. It’s a young group, and I think they needed that.”
When the subject of team leadership was broached with manager Bob Melvin, he said Semien is capable of filling the role and also cited Lowrie, Matt Joyce and Stephen Piscotty as veterans with leadership presences.
Melvin said Semien leads by example “because he plays every day. It is literally a fistfight to try to get him a day off. When I do, he doesn’t look at me. He hates it. You want those types of guys. It’s easy to lead when you post up every day and play hurt and do the right thing and play for your team.”
Semien became the longesttenured Athletic when Sonny Gray was traded to the Yankees on July 31. Gray had the distinction all of two weeks, in the wake of Sean Doolittle’s trade to Washington.
Aside from Semien, three other players have been with the A’s the past three seasons, but Kendall Graveman and Mark Canha spent time in the minors. Josh Phegley, a backup catcher, didn’t play until the third game in 2015. Semien was the Opening Night shortstop.
“I would love to share anything I’ve learned along the way and what I’m still learning now with them because I want them to be fully equipped in any situation,” Semien said of Barreto and Mateo. “I want all of us to be fully prepared so we can make every play for our pitchers.”
Mateo, one of three prospects acquired in the Gray trade, said Semien has helped him defensively — for example, stressing the importance of attacking slow rollers, and gave off-field advice, including not letting a rough game affect his relationship with the media.
“He’s got a really good arm and athleticism; he’s pretty raw,” Semien said. “You see what the guy does well and pass along whatever could make him better so he could be a premium guy. He’s a fast kid, a quick first step. That stuff stands out for both of those guys, Frankie and Julio.”
Lowrie has emerged as a resource for young infielders and hitters. Among position players on the 40-man roster, he’s the elder statesman (age 33) and one of just three to reach the postseason (along with Joyce and Piscotty).
Asked to define leadership, Lowrie said, “First and foremost, you have to lead by example; that’s how you garner respect. Your actions will always be louder than words. Once you’ve had enough time and (have) seen how the game is played, you can be a little more vocal, like, ‘Hey, this is how the game is supposed to be played.’ There are phases. You don’t just become a leader.”
Lowrie said Semien is suited for the role.
“For sure. He’s a heady player, knows how to play the game the right way and prepare well,” Lowrie said. “I think you get respect in this game by preparing yourself to perform every day and doing it. You can’t be an effective leader without respect.”
By all accounts, that epitomizes Semien.