Ron Washington to new Texas Rangers infielder Marcus Semien: 'You take credit for what you are.'

The former Rangers manager tutored Semien in 2015 with Oakland and helped turn his career around.

Former Rangers manager Ron Washington and new Rangers infielder Marcus Semien were together in Oakland in 2015 and 2016, and Semien credits Washington for turning his career around (The Associated Press/Ben Margot).

Ron Washington was fresh off a World Series championship with the Atlanta Braves.

Marcus Semien was fresh off a breakthrough season with the Toronto Blue Jays that included 45 home runs and would soon include a Gold Glove. He was headed to free agency.

Semien hasn’t forgotten 2015, when he was making a flurry of errors as the Oakland A’s shortstop. Then-A’s general manager Billy Beane reached out to Washington, a former A’s assistant coach before he became the beloved manager of the Texas Rangers, and asked Washington to help Semien.

The rest is now a seven-year, $175 contract Semien agreed to Sunday with the Rangers.

Washington knew in early November that Semien was about to get paid, but he also had some advice for Semien during a phone call in which Semien once again was giving Washington credit for turning him around.