A's players turn out to celebrate Kotsay: 'He deserves it all'

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MESA, Ariz. -- Preparing for the press conference to announce his three-year extension as manager of the Athletics on Monday, Mark Kotsay was anticipating only a few reporters, some of the team¡¯s broadcasters and maybe a camera or two.

Instead, awaiting Kotsay in a media room at the Lew Wolff Training Complex was every single A¡¯s player, coach, clubhouse attendant and front-office member who is in camp for the start of Spring Training.

¡°I didn¡¯t expect this,¡± Kotsay said with a grin as he received a huge round of applause while walking through the door alongside his wife, Jamie, and A¡¯s general manager David Forst.

That large turnout really should not come as a surprise. Since taking over as manager just before the start of the 2022 season, Kotsay has cultivated strong relationships within every sector of the A¡¯s organization. He brings a relatability to his players with a managerial style that allows him to connect with them regardless of what stage of their careers they¡¯re currently at. His communication skills help him form a united front with the front office, forging a partnership that brings him in for dialogue and input on roster decisions.

Those traits have come with time, growing over each of Kotsay¡¯s first three years as a Major League manager.

¡°[Kotsay] mentioned patience,¡± Forst said. ¡°The last three years required a lot, and he has grown more patient. When we started in 2022, I think he wanted everything to be exactly as he wanted it right away -- his staff, the players, the roster. It takes time to grow. I¡¯ve obviously been here with a number of managers, and each one has to sort of figure out where and how they fit with the organization, the roster and things like that. I think Mark has gotten patient, and in that process, I think he¡¯s also learned what works for him and his staff.¡±

From a player standpoint, Kotsay has earned the trust of the entire clubhouse through his ability to instill confidence in his group of athletes.

¡°The biggest part that stands out with me and Kots [is] that I feel like I can relate to how emotional, passionate and competitive he is as a person,¡± A¡¯s left-hander JP Sears said. ¡°As a player, that¡¯s what you want in a manager. Somebody that you can tell cares almost more than the players at times. I was super excited to know I have somebody that has my back for some more years.¡±

Even during what has been a difficult three-year period that has seen the A¡¯s go through a rebuild and start a new era beginning with a temporary move to a new city and stadium in West Sacramento¡¯s Sutter Health Park for the next three seasons before a planned relocation to Las Vegas in 2028, Kotsay has managed to keep the focus on trying to get better every day.

¡°It seems like he was tasked with an impossible thing to do that¡¯s never been done,¡± said A¡¯s second baseman Zack Gelof. ¡°He¡¯s done a great job. I don¡¯t know if you could do a better job of how he¡¯s handled everything that¡¯s been thrown at us. From moving cities and a new stadium, I feel like he¡¯s done everything to the best of his ability. ¡­ He deserves it all.¡±

Brent Rooker is perhaps the greatest example of Kotsay¡¯s ability to inspire players to believe in themselves.

At the time Rooker came to the A¡¯s as a waiver claim from the Royals in November 2022, he was about to join his fourth organization in three years and was seriously contemplating offers to head overseas and play in Japan. After a highly competitive roster battle later that spring, Rooker never forgot the talk he had with Kotsay in the manager¡¯s office when he found out he made the Opening Day roster on the final day of roster cuts. Since then, Rooker has emerged as an All-Star and posted stats that rival the game¡¯s truly elite hitters.

¡°He placed his confidence in me from day one,¡± Rooker said. ¡°When it came down to that last day in Spring Training 2023 and they were trying to decide who they wanted the last roster spot to be, we had that meeting and he just said, ¡®I fought for you. You¡¯re my guy, and I wanted you here.¡¯ Having his vote of confidence meant a lot to me and put a lot of confidence in myself.

¡°We have the belief inside this room that we are extremely close to going out and winning a lot of games and making a run at playing playoff baseball. That¡¯s the expectation he¡¯s established from the way he¡¯s managed.¡±