NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. -- The A's are mourning the passing of Minor League video coordinator Mark Smith, who died Monday at 41 years old.
Smith, an everyday friendly presence at the A's Minor League complex in Arizona, was instrumental in the creation of the organization's video department. He had served as coordinator for eight seasons.
"He was the first guy you saw over there," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Just a great guy that everybody felt close to and couldn't do enough to help whoever he could."
Smith served in the U.S. Air Force from 1998 to 2007. Funeral services are pending.
"We're still sort of absorbing this whole thing," A's vice president of baseball operations Billy Beane said. "As you can imagine, it came as a shock to everybody … such a commitment to the organization, such a diligent worker. My memory of him is just always on the go, running around. Everyone just thought the world of him as an employee, a person."