Team feels there’s no leadership void

MESA, Ariz. — A recurring question early in A’s camp is who the team’s clubhouse leaders will be after the offseason departures of Marcus Semien, Khris Davis and others.

Semien was the A’s de facto captain in recent years. Davis, general manager David Forst said after Davis’ trade to Texas, also helped lead a group that reached the postseason the past three seasons.

On the first day of camp, manager Bob Melvin was asked about returning players who fit that role — and named most of the lineup.

“The good news is we still have a core group of young players … that had leadership qualities the minute they got here, whether it was Matt Chapman, Matt Olson, Chad Pinder,” Melvin said. “Mark Canha has leadership qualities, Stephen Piscotty, Ramón Laureano’s going to be one of those guys. So that’s not going to be a problem for us as far as leadership goes.”

Laureano is softspoken with media but showed a fiery side last season, including in Game 3 of the AL Division Series with his emotional dugout pep talk late in a comeback win. Laureano on Friday also said he expects A’s leadership to stem from multiple sources.

“I felt like I had to do what I had to do, but there’s a lot of guys that have stepped up during the season, too, and they have to do what they have to do in their moment to keep us rolling mentally and physically,” Laureano said.

Said Chapman: “The good thing about our team is it was never like we had one guy that was the set leader or somebody that made every decision. It was always kind of like a leader by committee kind of thing that we all held each other accountable.”

Semien was widely impactful as Oakland’s shortstop and player union rep and a Bay Area native active in the community. Pinder, who became a father last season, said he still texts Semien for dad advice. Chapman, who with Pinder is an A’s player rep, said Semien is “somebody that you can’t replace, what he brings to the team and the kind of person he is.”

“Whether that means we all have to step up a little to fill Marcus’ void a little bit, I’m not sure,” Chapman said. “But I think all the guys do a really good job of working hard and holding each other accountable. So I think he will be missed but we’ll be able to take care of our business and have a successful season.”

⏩ Melvin said he expects the A’s first four spring games to last seven innings. Spring games can be shortened to five or seven innings through March 13 and seven innings after that under the 2021 MLB protocols.

The A’s will play their Cactus League opener Sunday at Hohokam Stadium against the Dodgers. Canha, Laureano, Elvis Andrus and Mitch Moreland will likely play, Melvin said.

⏩ Frankie Montas, who joined A’s camp Thursday after being delayed by a positive coronavirus test, “feels fine” and has begun throwing, Melvin said. Montas will be on the same throwing progression as other starters, “just a little behind,” Melvin said