How Dave Stewart influenced this A’s rookie

This story was excerpted from Martin Gallegos' Athletics Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe_ _to get it regularly in your inbox.

OAKLAND -- When Dave Stewart was honored with a jersey number retirement at the Coliseum on Sunday, Tyler Cyr made sure he was front and center inside the dugout for the entirety of the pregame ceremony.

Though Cyr grew up an A’s fan in nearby Fremont, Calif., the 29-year-old reliever is too young to have caught even the end of Stewart’s career. Thanks to his grandfather, Ron Baptiste, however, he knows all about the legendary Oakland right-hander’s intimidating presence on the mound.

“Dave Stewart means a lot to me because my grandpa would always reference him in talking about pitchers that had that look in their eye,” Cyr said. “Guys that instilled fear in hitters before they even threw the first pitch. That’s what Stew embodies. I just remember my grandpa mentioning that.”

Meeting Stewart before Sunday’s game became a full-circle moment for Cyr, as his grandfather was actually in attendance.

“To actually see [Stewart] in person and shake his hand, it’s just unbelievable,” Cyr said.

Later in the day, Cyr had another special moment. Summoned by manager Mark Kotsay for the ninth inning of a 10-3 A’s lead, Cyr, who was making just his fourth Major League relief appearance, was flawless by retiring all three batters he faced, two via strikeout, to seal a victory for his hometown team.

“It shows that Kots and the staff has some faith in me to get out there and keep a lead in our favor,” Cyr said. “From a selfish standpoint, it means a lot because I grew up in the Bay. To come out here in a ballgame like that and give us a happy flight, it feels really good.”

With Dany Jiménez and Zach Jackson out with injuries, the closer role in Oakland's bullpen is wide open. Cyr might not move into that spot just yet, but he’s made a good first impression since getting called up from Triple-A Las Vegas on Sept. 6, allowing just two runs on five hits over 7 2/3 innings with the A's.

“You’ve got to tip your cap to our baseball ops people for identifying them and bringing them into our organization,” Kotsay said in reference to Cyr and right-hander Joel Payamps. “They have stepped up and fulfilled these roles now that Dany and Jackson aren’t with us right now. They’re big right-handed arms and they’re getting their opportunity to pitch in roles that could be a future role for them.”