WEST SACRAMENTO -- The Athletics received very encouraging news regarding All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson earlier this week. The rookie sensation has begun a hitting progression, which likely puts him on track for a return near the end of August.
When he does return, Wilson will reassume his place at shortstop and atop the A’s lineup. Until then, Darell Hernaiz is doing all he can to maintain a spot on the roster when that time comes.
Hernaiz, recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas in the wake of Wilson’s July 26 placement on the 10-day injured list with a left forearm fracture, has performed more than adequately as the A’s everyday shortstop.
Defensively, Hernaiz has been sure-handed while even producing a few highlight-reel plays up the middle. At the plate, he’s done his best Wilson impression by displaying some impressive bat-to-ball skills, now having struck out just four times in 56 plate appearances after Wednesday’s 8-2 loss to the Rays at Sutter Health Park.
Acquired in a January 2023 trade with the Orioles, Hernaiz made the A’s Opening Day roster last season and entered the year ranked as a top-five prospect in the organization by MLB Pipeline.
Though he was a shortstop for most of his professional career to that point, the A’s had an opening at third base and asked Hernaiz to help fill the need at the hot corner. Optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas in mid-April, Hernaiz returned to the A’s in May and appeared to be finding himself at the big league level until an ankle injury that required surgery sidelined him until August. Once he was healthy again, Hernaiz was assigned to Las Vegas, where he spent the rest of his ’24 campaign.
Last year’s version of Hernaiz in the Majors appeared overmatched at the plate and timid at times on defense. From manager Mark Kotsay’s perspective, this year’s version of Hernaiz has been a complete 180.
“Defensively, it’s night and day different,” Kotsay said. “From the offensive side, the power is showing up. He battles with the two strikes. He’s changed that approach a little bit, which I love. This is a great opportunity for Darell. He’s leaving a great impression. It’s a small sample size right now, but really nice to see a young player do the things that he knew he needed to do to be successful here.”
Before Hernaiz went home for the offseason last year, Kotsay said he and the A’s coaching staff had a conversation with Hernaiz to work on improving several areas of his game, from foot speed to plate approach and adjusting his overall swing to drive the ball more.
Those adjustments showed up in the Minors this year. Beginning this season at Triple-A Las Vegas, Hernaiz was slashing .305/.383/.424 with four homers, 28 doubles and three triples in 96 games with the Aviators at the time of his callup on July 29.
“He was very self-aware of what he needed to do,” Kotsay said. “He didn’t have an ego about knowing the big leagues were the big leagues and he wasn’t really ready, yet he didn’t let it deter him from going and working his tail off and committing to what he knew he needed to work on.”
For Hernaiz, he credits multiple factors to his success this season at both Triple-A and in the big leagues. For one, he’s stayed put mostly at shortstop, his natural position, rather than move around the infield like he did in ’24. Above all else, though, is that he feels way more confident in himself than he did at any point last season.
“It’s a lot of things, man,” Hernaiz said. “First of all, just having confidence, whether I’m playing good or not. And then just making sure I’m trying to drive the ball, whether I’m playing good or not. Not getting too handsy. Sometimes I get too contact-y and just tap it to put the ball in play. I’m making sure I always take my swing.”
Hernaiz is not out to dethrone Wilson for his spot, nor does he expect to. But he is aware that a good showing in what is essentially a trial period while Wilson is out is a pivotal moment in his career to establish himself at the highest level.
“I’ve had a little bit of success, and it feels good to have it,” Hernaiz said. “But the name of this game is consistency. … Jacob’s really good and he’s coming back soon. So, whatever [position] I can play, I’ll play it.”