Another hard-luck injury (fractured hand) lands Muncy on IL

WEST SACRAMENTO – Two years into his Major League career, Max Muncy is developing an unwanted reputation for tough-luck injuries.

Ahead of Tuesday night’s series opener against the Royals at Sutter Health Park, the Athletics placed Muncy on the 10-day injured list with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand. The third baseman’s IL placement is retroactive to Sunday, putting his earliest potential return date as May 6, though the A’s do not have a timetable for his return at this point.

For the second consecutive season, Muncy will miss time as a result of getting hit on the hand by a pitch. His rookie campaign last season was shortened after he sustained a right hand fracture as a result of a hit-by-pitch against the Rangers in July.

This injury also stems from getting hit by a pitch against the Rangers on April 13. Muncy attempted to play through the discomfort, though there was a clear drop-off in production before and after the injury occurred.

Entering April 13, Muncy was batting .305 with an .853 OPS, two home runs, five doubles and a triple over his first 15 games. From April 13-25, Muncy hit just .121 with one extra-base hit and 15 strikeouts in 11 games. An MRI on Monday revealed a non-displaced fracture at the neck of the fifth metacarpal (pinky finger) in Muncy’s left hand.

“Another just unfortunate, I don’t want to say ‘freak’ injury, because guys get hit,” manager Mark Kotsay said. “But it just seems like, second year in a row, it’s an injury that doesn’t generally happen that frequently. For [Muncy], it’s bad luck, really.”

Muncy will be shut down from all baseball activities for at least the next few days as the club waits to see how his finger progresses. In his absence, Darell Hernaiz is expected to receive the majority of playing time at third base going forward. Brett Harris, who was recalled from Triple-A on Tuesday, will provide bench depth as a versatile option around the infield.

Kotsay has referenced Hernaiz in the past as someone he believes is capable of emerging as an everyday player if a need on the infield were to arise. Hernaiz impressed the team while filling in for an injured Jacob Wilson at shortstop last year, and he’ll now get an opportunity at regular playing time once again.

“We’re confident Darell is ready for that opportunity,” Kotsay said. “He’s a plus defender. He’s shown that. … He grinds at-bats out. I think this is an opportunity for him to get consistent at-bats and see the growth that I think is in there for Darell.”