Hernaiz steps up big for Puerto Rico, eyes roster spot upon return

LAS VEGAS -- Shortly before World Baseball Classic rosters were finalized last month, Athletics manager Mark Kotsay received a phone call from Red Sox manager Alex Cora for some intel on Darell Hernaiz as a potential candidate for Team Puerto Rico.

On Saturday night, Cora reached out to Kotsay again, this time via text, with two simple words: “Thank you.”

By now, you probably know why Cora sent that message. Hernaiz produced the most viral moment of the WBC yet, crushing a walk-off home run in the 10th inning against Panama – in his hometown of San Juan, no less – on Saturday to clinch Puerto Rico's second victory of the tournament.

When superstar Francisco Lindor was deemed unavailable to play in the Classic, Cora, who was previously Puerto Rico’s general manager in 2017 and remains involved with the team’s baseball operations, scoured around the league for possible replacements. Hernaiz was on the country’s radar, and it was Kotsay’s strong endorsement that helped get the 24-year-old A’s infielder on the roster.

“I was all in for him to be on the team,” Kotsay said before Sunday’s 7-4 win over the Angels at Las Vegas Ballpark. “I was excited for him to get the opportunity and really felt like he was ready for the moment. … What a moment for Darell.”

The celebratory trip around the bases was almost as epic as the homer for Hernaiz, who said he “blacked out” as he jumped around with his arms in the air before pulling up for a basketball jump shot near home plate, where he was mobbed by teammates.

“I thought he was going to forget to touch home plate,” Kotsay said with a laugh.

Kotsay and several of the A’s players who made the road trip for this weekend’s two-game exhibition series against the Angels in Las Vegas were at the Circa Resort & Casino for an event hosted by owner John Fisher at the time Hernaiz hit the walk-off. The moment happened during a speech Kotsay was giving to everyone in the room, and it didn’t take long after for Hernaiz’s teammates to repost the clip of his home run on social media.

“It was amazing,” A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler said. “Walk-off homer in Puerto Rico in front of his family and the whole country. That was pretty cool. I told him when he left [for the WBC] that he was going to do something special. I’m just super happy for him that he got that moment.”

While Hernaiz is away for the WBC, he remains very much in the mix for a third base job with the A’s that is seemingly still undecided. Max Muncyand Andy Ibáñez are also vying for that role, and there could be a scenario in which one or both make the club out of Spring Training, depending on roster construction.

The A’s liked what they saw from Hernaiz (5-for-11 with three doubles in five spring games) before he left, and he’s keeping himself in good standing for a roster spot with his hot start to the WBC.

“When he left us, there was a good evaluation of where he was at with all the things that I talked about with him,” Kotsay said. “He’s done everything throughout each year to build his foundation. … The last part really is that confidence. That mindset that you belong and you’re a big leaguer.”

There might not be a better confidence boost out there than a clutch, game-winning homer on one of baseball’s biggest stages.

Dueling two-homer games
From Vegas to Mesa, A’s prospects put on a power show throughout Sunday’s split-squad action.

In Cactus League action against the Dodgers at Hohokam Stadium, A’s No. 1 prospect (MLB No. 4) Leo De Vries crushed his first two homers of spring, following a 392-foot two-run blast to right in the fourth with a towering 393-foot grand slam into the A’s bullpen one inning later.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, A’s No. 9 prospect Tommy White blasted his second and third homers of the spring, hitting a 429-foot solo shot to center in the second inning and a 378-foot two-run homer the opposite way to right in the eighth.

For White, his 3-for-4 afternoon puts him at an even .500 batting average with a 1.619 OPS through 11 games this spring.

“He’s a natural hitter," Kotsay said of White. “This isn’t a surprise by any means that he’s here and feels comfortable. … He knows he’s talented and has a great approach and a good swing. There’s a lot of confidence to that, which is awesome. It’s fun to watch.”