Javier

Herrera

Herrera, who turns 28 in April, played last season in the independent Frontier League. Once a top prospect with the A’s, his career was derailed due to injuries. He’ll serve as minor league fodder.

After returning from a steroids suspension, Herrera, 20, hit .275/.374/.444 in 360 AB for Single-A Kane County last season. He’s at .293 with two homers in 41 at-bats in Venezuela.

Herrera recently rejoined Kane County after injuries and callups resulted in him spending a week with Triple-A Sacramento. He’s hitting .264/.363/.462 with eight stolen bases in 28 games in the Midwest League.

Herrera had been struggling to hit for power of late. For the season, he’s at .279/.374/.429 with 19 SB in 63 games. The steroids suspension hasn’t had much of an impact on his stock.

Herrera missed two weeks because of a strained hamstring.

Herrera got off to a very slow start last month after missing 2006 following Tommy John surgery, but he’s hitting .316/.398/.618 in 76 at-bats during May. If he keeps it up, he should get to spend the second half of the year in Double-A.

Herrera’s promotion comes as a mild surprise, especially since the A’s had Danny Putnam ready to rejoin Midland’s outfield. Instead, Putnam took Herrera’s spot at Single-A Stockton. Herrera was hitting .274/.337/.448 with his old team. The A’s old guideline about not promoting a player unless he was walking in 10 percent of his plate appearances wasn’t a factor here. Herrera had a 60/19 K/BB ratio in 252 at-bats.

Herrera hurt his wrist in the first week of Double-A Midland’s season. He’s had chronic injury problems and wasn’t in Oakland’s future plans, so they decided to cut ties Tuesday. In six minor league seasons and over 317 games in the A’s organization, he had a .284 average, 72 stolen bases, 48 homers and 208 RBI.

Herrera missed 2006 following Tommy John surgery and has been having hamstring problems since last season, so this was just his 83rd game in three seasons. The A’s love his tools, but they have several better bets to populate their outfield in 2009 and beyond.

Herrera’s injury doesn’t impact the major league club, but the A’s can’t be pleased that their No. 2 prospect will lose a year of development time. Herrera, who hit .275/.374/.444 in the Midwest League in 2005, was expected to open the season at Single-A Stockton.