Darell Hernaiz

Hernaiz entered the year needing a strong spring after managing only a .503 OPS in 135 major league plate appearances the season before, but a .608 OPS in camp returned him to Triple-A Las Vegas. He continued to hit there, posting his third consecutive season with a batting average of .300 or better and a .376 on-base mark, earning a recall in late July and a stay in the majors the rest of the season. His .598 OPS represented progress from his rookie campaign, though it still trailed his .815 OPS over 191 Triple-A games. Speed has been a minor league asset, as he stole 24 bases in 27 attempts across three Triple-A seasons, but that hasn't translated yet, with a 3-for-7 showing last season with the Athletics. Hernaiz kept his strikeout rate to 12.2 percent and undershot his expected batting average by 26 points, offering some optimism. With minimal power, his clearest role is as a bench option. Read Past Outlooks