OAKLAND, Calif.—Welcome to California, where people cheer louder when it rains than when Brett Lawrie hits a 447-foot bomb. An unimpressive season for the A’s thus far, sitting at the bottom of the AL table, things need to change. I sat down with Marcus Semien yesterday to talk to him about the tough season and what he has in store for the rest of the season and for the rest of his career. Despite the fact that the A’s are shot for a playoff spot, Semien, a Cal grad, mentioned that it was important for him and the team to continue to put in the effort throughout. That positive attitude shone through when he was talking about a three-run shot he hit against the Orioles on Tuesday, saying “Every time I go up to the plate, I want to do something to help the team win.”
Semien, who has now staked out his spot as a full-time big leaguer, is not only settling in to the Bay Area, where he grew up, but also is now settling in to his natural position at short. On the White Sox, where he played third and second because Alexei Ramirez had the starting job at short, he wasn’t comfortable. After moving to the A’s and settling in at short, he has come in to his element and seized what he called “a big opportunity” to stake out a starting role at short. Only a newly found big league talent, he was very clear in describing the difference of the atmosphere in the minors and the big leagues.
“It’s different” Semien said. “There’s nothing like it.”
Semien’s optimism and humility came through again when asked what part of his game he needed to focus on most by replying “I really look at every part of my game,” and that he is working to become a more consistent player.
Semien, batting a meager .249 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs, has been picking up steam recently over the last six games, hitting a more impressive .277 with two dingers, including a three-run moon shot on a hanging curveball that brought the A’s to a 5-0 lead on Tuesday night.
Semien’s future looks promising, and if his recent performance is any indication of what is to come, then the A’s are lucky to have such a promising prospect rounding out the infield at short over the next couple years. Providing defensive prowess, occasional power at the plate, and a sense of optimism, Semien’s future with the A’s and the big leagues looks promising.