A.J. Hinch is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager. He was born on May 15, 1974, in Waverly, Iowa. Hinch played college baseball at Stanford University, where he was a two-time All-American and helped lead the Cardinal to the College World Series in 1995.
Hinch was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the third round of the 1996 MLB draft. He made his major league debut with the Athletics in 1998 and played for them until 2000. He then played for the Kansas City Royals in 2001 and the Detroit Tigers in 2003 before retiring as a player.
After retiring, Hinch began his coaching career. He served as the director of player development for the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2006 to 2009 before being named the team's manager in 2009. Hinch was fired by the Diamondbacks in 2010 after a 31-48 start to the season.
Hinch then joined the San Diego Padres as their assistant general manager in 2010. He held that position until 2014 when he was hired as the manager of the Houston Astros. Hinch led the Astros to the playoffs in each of his first five seasons as manager, including a World Series championship in 2017.
However, Hinch's tenure with the Astros was marred by a sign-stealing scandal that came to light in 2019. The Astros were found to have used technology to steal signs during their 2017 championship season, and Hinch was suspended for the entire 2020 season as a result. He was also fired by the Astros.
In January 2021, Hinch was hired as the manager of the Detroit Tigers. He is tasked with leading a rebuilding team back to contention in the American League Central division.
Throughout his career, Hinch has been known for his analytical approach to the game. He has been praised for his ability to communicate with players and his willingness to embrace new technologies and strategies. However, the sign-stealing scandal has cast a shadow over his accomplishments and raised questions about his integrity.
Despite the controversy, Hinch remains a respected figure in the baseball world. He has been praised for his leadership skills and his ability to get the most out of his players. As he begins a new chapter with the Tigers, Hinch will look to prove that he can succeed without the aid of illicit tactics.
⚾