Americas grad Darell Hernaiz earns spot on Oakland A’s Opening Day roster
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – Darell Hernaiz’s life-long dream of making it to the ranks of Major League Baseball has come true.
The Americas High School graduate was named to the Opening Day roster for the Oakland Athletics on Monday, manager Mark Kotsay announced. At just 22 years old, Hernaiz will be the youngest A’s player on Oakland’s Opening Day roster since 2010. He’s also the first Americas player to ever make it to the Big Leagues.
A versatile infielder, Hernaiz can play second base, shortstop or third base and his ability to swing the bat helped him earn a spot on the Opening Day roster as well. Hernaiz hit .313/.340/.333 with six RBI in 48 spring training at-bats.
He also hit .321 with nine home runs and 71 RBI in 131 Minor League games between Double-A and Triple-A last season.
Hernaiz was drafted in the fifth round of the 2019 MLB Draft right out of Americas High School by the Baltimore Orioles, before getting traded to the A’s during the 2023 offseason and taking off.
“They’ve taken me in like one of their own and I’m really thankful because they let me do my thing. They weren’t overbearing trying to change me in any way, they were like, ‘hey, we know you’re good, just do your thing and it’ll all work out,’” Hernaiz told KTSM in 2023. “I’m really grateful that they didn’t really tell me much, they just said, ‘we believe in you.’”
Rated as the fifth-best prospect in Oakland’s organization, Hernaiz will get an opportunity to truly prove himself at the highest level early in the 2024 season. He and the A’s will host the Cleveland Guardians on Thursday to open the new MLB campaign.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
