OAKLAND -- From his press box seat high above the field, Ron Washington watches the game and quietly hopes that grounder after grounder makes its way toward A’s shortstop Marcus Semien.
Washington, working with the A’s as an infield instructor, runs Semien through a range of defensive fundamental drills before every game. Then he heads upstairs and is eager to see how Semien applies those lessons once the first pitch is thrown.
“I’m with him every day and I see the progress he makes,” Washington said. “I’m sitting up there wanting balls to go to him because I want him to play the ball.