Marcus Semien: Ex-A’s shortstop back in Oakland.
Marcus Semien awoke at home Monday. When it was time, he drove his same wellworn route to the Coliseum. In the six years he donned an A’s uniform there, Semien became an everyday majorleague shortstop, a fan favorite, an MVP finalist. He arrived this time as a visiting player. Some of the familiarity faded.
“I had to ask, like, where do I go?” Semien said on a video call before Monday’s game between the Blue Jays and A’s. “Because I haven’t been on this side since 2014.”
Different entrance aside, Semien said: “I’m very comfortable with the surroundings here. Obviously a different jersey on. … But, honestly, I’m just excited to be able to play in front of family and compete against some of my best friends on that team. I’m excited for my teammates in Toronto to experience Oakland. A lot of guys haven’t been here yet, so looking forward to seeing how they play here.”
The return to Oakland of Semien, the Bay Area native who played at Cal, figured to be strange. With the A’s, Semien grew from a raw young infielder to a team leader and anchor at shortstop and in the leadoff spot. He served as the A’s player union representative and was admired for his work ethic. The team mirrored his development; the A’s had losing records in Semien’s first three seasons in Oakland, then made three straight postseason appearances.
A’s manager Bob Melvin said Monday afternoon it would be “hard to see (Semien) on the other side.”
“He’s meant a lot to this team, a lot to this community, continues to,” Melvin said. “I’ve had to do this before, probably not with too many guys that I’m as close to as Marcus . ... There are certain guys that you just don’t want to see in a different uniform, and that’s just the way baseball is. It happens.”
The A’s said publicly after last year’s playoff exit they hoped to retain Semien, and made him an offer in free agency, but much of the deal reportedly was deferred and Semien later said it was his camp that had called the A’s. He ended up signing a oneyear, $18 million deal with Toronto with a plan
to play second base alongside budding shortstop Bo Bichette.
Semien went 1for3 with a walk Monday, upping his average to .231. He has gone 12for35 (.343) in his past 10 games.
In the afternoon, Semien exchanged handshakes and hugs with former A’s teammates on the field. He had seen a few when the A’s and Blue Jays played consecutive series at Tampa Bay last month.
“Last night was the weirdest part, turning on video of Fran
kie Montas, a guy I’ve played behind for years and now I’m studying him because I’m going to face him,” Semien said. “Once you’re competing against a team, you really have to dig deep into the data and video. And when you know exactly who that person is, it does feel a little weird.”
Semien received a cheer from a small pregame Coliseum crowd during lineup introductions. The A’s played a tribute video to Semien, who stood in center field when it
began, talking to a couple of A’s players. He walked back toward the firstbase line as it played and got another cheer, doffing his cap when it ended.
“Once we get out on the field, I think I’ll be most comfortable,” Semien said hours earlier. “Because that’s baseball and that’s what I know best.”