Muncy activated as Athletics get back bat, versatility after hand fracture

The Athletics reinstated infielder Max Muncy from the 10-day injured list on Monday, a roster move that returned one of the club’s more established middle-of-the-order options after a fractured left hand. In the corresponding transaction, Oakland optioned infielder Darell Hernaiz to Triple-A Las Vegas, tightening the major-league infield picture ahead of the next stretch of games.

Muncy’s absence began at the end of April. He was placed on the injured list April 28 retroactive to April 26 with a fractured fifth metacarpal in his left hand. The injury was tied to him being hit by a pitch earlier in April, and reported that his performance dipped after the incident, before imaging confirmed the fracture.

Before the injury, Muncy was batting.239 with a.710 OPS in 26 games with the A’s. After being sidelined, he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on May 30. During that stint, he went 10-for-27 (.370) with six runs, two doubles, three home runs, and nine RBI in seven games, and he worked multiple roles, starting three times at designated hitter, twice at shortstop, and twice at third base.

The activation also reshaped the Athletics’ everyday depth at shortstop and third base. Hernaiz, who entered the season as an Opening Day roster player, had been hitting.237 with a home run, seven RBI, and a.606 OPS across 47 games. According to, he started 21 of the A’s last 25 games at shortstop following the injury to Jacob Wilson, and he also saw action at third base and second base while filling gaps on the infield.

For Oakland, getting Muncy back is not just a return to a familiar name. The A’s also add a bat with proven damage potential, plus a player who can shift across positions when the lineup requires it. The Athletics had to absorb the production and defensive adjustments that come with losing a core everyday infielder, and Monday’s move suggests the club is ready to recalibrate with Muncy back at full roster status.

Hernaiz’s option to Las Vegas makes the next step clear for him. While the major-league opportunity has been real, Monday gives him a chance to reset in Triple-A, where he can work on consistency without the immediate pressure of daily lineup decisions. For Muncy, the focus shifts to how quickly he can translate rehab swing results back into MLB performance after a hand injury that can affect timing and bat control. The Athletics will also be watching whether his multi-position usage continues, or whether the team settles him more firmly into a single role as the weeks progress.