Athletics Report: Mason Miller “Excited” for the Group
MESA, Ariz. (Feb. 12) — The Athletics (no city name) opened spring training Wednesday at Hohokam Park with pitchers and catchers reporting for the workout. It will be the first time in the history of Major League Baseball that a team competes without a city name, something the Athletics will do while they play in Sacramento, California over the next few seasons. But the players obviously are focused solely on baseball and preparing for the upcoming season in the wide-open AL West. Closer Mason Miller, a 2024 All-Star, is among the returning faces. He carries high expectations for 2025.
“This is the start of what we hope is something special,” Miller said. The team is looking forward to “keep building on the work we put in the past couple years. Hasn’t always been pretty, but we’re excited.”
Old and New Faces
Miller said that what teams did last year doesn’t matter, which he called the “awesome part about baseball every year.” He firmly believes every day is another chance to improve. “I’m so excited for the group,” he added. “We have a lot of guys back from last year, some new guys, too. There’s no reason we can’t continue and build on the success we had” late in 2024.
Key returnees include Brent Rooker, JJ Bleday, Shea Langeliers, Lawrence Butler, and JP Sears. New faces include third baseman Gio Urshela and pitchers Luis Severino, Jeffrey Springs, and Jose Leclerc. Manager Mark Kotsay called the trio of new pitchers “three guys that can have an impact.”
Back End of the ‘Pen
Kotsay specifically addressed the addition of Leclerc, who pitched the pennant-clinching out for the Texas Rangers in the 2023 ALCS en route to their first World Series title. “What he accomplished in the ’23 run for a World Series Championship was incredible. Last year he didn’t get off to a great start but finished strong. He’s got that experience that we recognized to go alongside Mason. Mason, coming off last season, has solidified his closer role, but to have a veteran who has experience” and “accomplished what he did, you know, that provides some level of comfortability.”
Miller takes his role as closer seriously, both in what the job entails and the trust it means the team has in him. The Athletics have had several tremendous closers wear the green and gold through the years, such as Huston Street, Andrew Bailey, Jason Isringhausen, Keith Foulke, and two Hall of Famers, Dennis Eckersley and Rollie Fingers. Miller stated that he has a “long way to go” to be mentioned in the same breath as the latter two but continued, “It’s my honor to get the opportunity to close games. That’s something that nobody should ever really take lightly. It’s the most important three outs in the game. So to know that more times than not, it’s gonna be my number that’s called to go get those three outs is definitely something I wear with honor.”
The Job Continues
With the move from Oakland to Sacramento, it would be easy to get distracted given all the changes. Miller, however, said the Athletics did not have much difficulty putting those potential distractions aside. “We play wherever they tell us to play every year,” he said. “Every year, you play 80 games on the road no matter where home is.” He went on to state that their job continues, and where they play “doesn’t really dictate” how they should feel about it. They’re interested to see the new home for themselves in person, yes. But it doesn’t change the ultimate task. “At the end of the day, our job is to win a game every day.”
The swan song in Oakland during 2024 brought several Athletics legends through the clubhouse and ballpark. Miller mentioned Dave Stewart and the recently deceased Rickey Henderson as guys that “came through all the time.” He said it was “really special to be able to be around guys like that,” even if they aren’t talking about baseball. “Just being in their presence is special. It lets you lean into the history of the franchise and everything that they’ve done.” Miller added, “I don’t know how many other teams and organizations have as many guys come through the clubhouse, even during spring training, so that’s definitely something we take advantage of.”
Rickey
When asked to share his favorite memory of Henderson, Miller chuckled and said, “Spring training here. He’d always come in and spend a week or so with us. Give the guys a good laugh and just be around. You could tell how much he missed it, how much he liked being around, not only for himself, but for us. He was a great resource for so many of our guys. The lasting impact he had — not only as the person he was but the things he did for this clubhouse — was awesome.”
Looking Ahead
Through all the work, one feeling persists, but the players aren’t the only ones that feel it, according to Miller.
“We’re excited. That’s spring training, and that’s what comes with it. It’s the excitement for you, me, fans — everybody. Baseball is almost here.”
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Main Photo Credits:
MESA, Ariz. (Feb. 12) — Pitchers and catchers from the Athletics assemble in right field before beginning the first official day of Spring Training 2025 at Hohokam Park. (Evan Thompson/Sport Relay)
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