There’s something poetic about three locker mates fighting for the same job. Darell Hernaiz, Max Muncy and Brett Harris have climbed the ladder together since 2023, riding buses in the minors, building chemistry, chasing the same dream. Now that dream has narrowed to one square of dirt at third base. The manager has made it plain: the job is open. This isn’t about who hits .400 in March. It’s about who takes professional at-bats, who locks down the left side of the infield, and who fits best alongside a lineup that suddenly has real offensive muscle with Nick Kurtz and Jeff McNeil in the mix.

Each candidate offers a different flavor. Muncy has 20-plus home run power but must prove durability. Harris is the most natural defender, steady and reliable. Hernaiz might own the purest bat, a career .297 minor league hitter who already showed he can handle big-league speed. Add in Andy Ibañez as a matchup option and Hernaiz leaving camp for Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, and this isn’t just a position battle — it’s a chess match. The A’s aren’t just picking a starter. They’re shaping the identity of their infield.

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