A's Name Mark Kotsay as Bench Coach
The Oakland A's named Mark Kotsay as bench coach on Bob Melvin's coaching staff for the 2016 season, the club announced today.
Kotsay comes to the A's from the San Diego Padres where he served as hitting coach in 2015 in his first professional coaching role. He played 17 seasons in the Major Leagues from 1997-2013, including a four-year stint with Oakland from 2004-07. Kotsay hit .282 in 472 games with the A's and batted .276 with 127 home runs and 720 RBI in 1914 games during his career, which also included stops in Florida (1997-2000), San Diego (2001-03, 12-13), Atlanta (2008), Boston (2008-09), Chicago-AL (2009-10) and Milwaukee (2011). He retired following the 2013 season and spent 2014 in the Padres front office as a special assistant to the general manager and baseball operations.
Mike Aldrete moves from bench coach to first base and outfield coach in 2016, replacing Tye Waller. The remainder of the coaching staff remains the same with Curt Young as pitching coach, Darren Bush as hitting coach, Ron Washington as third base coach, Scott Emerson as bullpen coach and Marcus Jensen as assistant hitting and catching coach.
In addition, the A's named Phil Pohl as bullpen catcher. Pohl was the A's 28th round pick of the 2012 draft out of Cooperstown Central HS in New York. He spent 3½ seasons in the Oakland farm system before he was traded to the Colorado organization, June 26, 2015. Pohl batted .242 in 182 games as a professional.
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