A week of drastic change continues for the A's coaching staff, as it was announced Monday that bench coach Mark Kotsay will take an indefinite leave of absence for a family matter.
Chip Hale will shift over from his third-base coaching duties to assume acting bench coach duties, a role he's held in the past under manager Bob Melvin. Steve Scarsone, a longtime minor league manager and currently working in the A's farm system, will become the acting third base coach.
Earlier Monday, the A's announced the hiring of Garvin Alston as their new bullpen coach. That came after Thursday's shakeup in which pitching coach Curt Young was let go and bullpen coach Scott Emerson assumed Young's duties.
A's general manager David Forst said Kotsay is leaving the team to help care for his daughter, Sienna, who was struck in the right eye by a tennis ball and is currently suffering from partial loss of vision in that eye.
"Mark will stay with his family as they seek opinions of specialists and he will remain as long as needed through the recovery and healing process," Forst said. "He's hopeful of returning at some point this season."
As for Alston's addition to the coaching staff, Forst said he was a natural choice after spending 11 seasons in the A's minor league system, including time as a pitching coach and minor league pitching coordinator. Last season, Alston served on Arizona's staff as bullpen coach under Hale, who was the Diamondbacks' manager.
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"It's always nice to have someone who doesn't have to start from square one," Melvin said. "He's another guy that has been here, knows what we're all about and understands the direction we're going. On top of that, he's got a really good way about him. I really enjoyed him when he was in big league camp with us."
In other news, third baseman Matt Chapman is out of the lineup while dealing with a left knee infection. He's day to day.
