GOODYEAR, Ariz. – During the annual Cactus League media days press conference at the beginning of spring training, a reporter asked Oakland A’s general manager David Forst about one of his former players.
Forst looked to his left at San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin, the longtime A’s manager who was sitting one table over, and said: “Hey, he’s asking about Chad Pinder.”
Melvin immediately broke into a smile and responded, “what do you want to know? I could talk about Chad all day.”
Pinder was beloved in Oakland. He was the organization’s longest-tenured player until he reached free agency this winter and signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds. He was never an everyday player, peaking at 379 plate appearances last year, but his impact carries beyond the field.
“He is first and foremost, in the clubhouse dynamic, a leader,” Melvin said. “It's very unique because guys that don't play every day really don't have the type of leadership qualities he does. Obviously, he plays anywhere. He's very selfless. I think Cincinnati is going to be a really good ballpark for him for his power in right-center field. He's just a fantastic individual.”
