The Athletics are making changes to their coaching staff, with hitting coach Chris Cron and quality control coach Marcus Jensen set to be dismissed, according to Martin Gallegos of MLB.com. The club is already looking for replacements for both roles.
Cron joined the organization in 2022 and spent his first two seasons as an assistant hitting coach. The “assistant” label came off his title in 2024, and he has worked alongside hitting coach Mike Aldrete over the past three seasons.
He also comes from a baseball family: his sons, C.J. Cron and Kevin Cron, are former big leaguers.
The move comes after an uneven year for the A’s offense. They finished 20th in scoring this season, a step back after ranking inside the top 12 in runs in 2025 for the first time since 2021.
That drop was even more noticeable given where they play. Sutter Health Park has been the A’s home for the past two years, and Statcast’s Park Factor metric has rated it as the second-most favorable hitting environment in the majors, trailing only Coors Field.
Health was a major issue for the lineup in 2026. Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Tyler Soderstrom, and Shea Langeliers all missed significant time, while Jacob Wilson went on the injured list three separate times.
His shoulder injury ended the season and eventually required surgery. The A’s are expecting a healthier 2027, and with that, a rebound at the plate.
Jensen’s run with the organization stretches back two decades. After his playing career ended, he became the hitting coach for the club’s Rookie ball affiliate in 2007, then moved into the manager’s chair in 2009 and stayed there through the 2013 season.
He reached the major league staff in 2015 and has filled a variety of roles since then, including catching coach, assistant hitting coach, and bullpen coach. He has served as quality control coach since the 2023 season.
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