WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Dave Stewart, a former World Series MVP, is making his return to the Oakland Athletics, stepping into a role within the team’s front office.

The Athletics officially announced on Wednesday that Stewart will serve as a special assistant focused on player development for the upcoming season. In this position, he will be working closely with Ed Sprague, who is the director of player development.

Stewart holds a significant place in A’s history, having spent eight of his 16 Major League seasons with the organization while it was based in Oakland. His impressive tenure includes winning the World Series MVP award in 1989, earning the MVP title in the American League Championship Series in 1990, and being inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.

During his time with the A’s from 1987 to 1990, Stewart achieved a remarkable feat of four consecutive seasons with at least 20 wins, solidifying his legacy. Furthermore, the club honored his contributions by retiring his jersey number, 34.

In addition to his playing career, Stewart has ventured into various roles within baseball operations. He initially worked in the A’s front office as an assistant to General Manager Sandy Alderson in 1996. Stewart also held a significant role as the general manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the 2015 and 2016 seasons and has experience as both a player agent and a pitching coach for several other teams.