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A. J. Hinch

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A.J. Hinch
Hinch at spring training in 2015
Houston Astros – No. 14
Catcher / Manager
Born: (1974-05-15) May 15, 1974 (age 50)
Waverly, Iowa
Batted: Right
Threw: Right
MLB debut
April 1, 1998, for the Oakland Athletics
Last MLB appearance
September 24, 2004, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through September 25, 2018)
Batting average.219
Home runs32
Runs batted in112
Managerial record463–397
Winning %.538
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Managerial record at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
As player

As manager

Career highlights and awards
A. J. Hinch
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's Baseball
Summer Olympics
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta Team

Andrew Jay Hinch (born May 15, 1974) is an American professional baseball coach and former catcher who is currently the manager for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). Prior to joining the Astros, Hinch played as catcher for the Oakland Athletics (1998–2000), Kansas City Royals (2001–2002), Detroit Tigers (2003) and Philadelphia Phillies (2004), managed the Arizona Diamondbacks from May 2009 to July 2010, and was the vice president of professional scouting for the San Diego Padres from September 2010 to August 2014. Hinch won the 2017 World Series over the Los Angeles Dodgers as the Astros' manager. He has a degree in psychology from Stanford University.

Early life

Hinch lived in Nashua, Iowa, until he was eight and moved to Oklahoma. He is a 1992 graduate of Midwest City (Oklahoma) High School, where, as a senior, he was the 1992 National Gatorade Player of the Year in baseball. He was drafted in the second round of the Major League Baseball draft but elected to attend Stanford University, where he was a third-round pick after his junior year in 1995. He decided to return to school and was again a third-round pick as a senior in 1996. While at Stanford he joined Delta Tau Delta International Fraternity. Hinch won a bronze medal for the United States at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and was named to the 1998 Topps All-Star Rookie Team.

Playing career

In an eight-season career, Hinch was a .219 hitter with 32 home runs and 112 RBI in 350 games.

Hinch was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the second round of the 1992 Major League Baseball Draft, but he did not sign, opting to attend Stanford University to play for the Stanford Cardinal baseball team. He was drafted again by the Minnesota Twins in the third round of the 1995 Major League Baseball Draft, but he opted to remain at Stanford for his senior season.

Hinch was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the third round of the 1996 Major League Baseball Draft. He signed with the Athletics in June 1996. He debuted with the Athletics in 1998 and remained with the team through the 2000 season.

In the 2000–01 offseason, Hinch was traded to the Kansas City Royals with Ángel Berroa as part of a 3-team trade that sent Ben Grieve from the Athletics to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Cory Lidle from the Devil Rays to the Athletics, Roberto Hernández from the Devil Rays to the Royals, and Johnny Damon and Mark Ellis to the Athletics from the Royals.

Hinch was released by the Royals after the 2002 season. He signed as a minor league free agent with the Cleveland Indians, but was purchased by the Detroit Tigers from the Indians in March 2003. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for the 2004 season, splitting the year between the majors and Triple-A. He spent all of 2005 with the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate before retiring.

Post-playing career

Arizona Diamondbacks

After the 2005 season, Hinch was hired by the Arizona Diamondbacks as their manager of minor league operations.[1] Even while playing, he was planning his post-playing career. He went so far as to go to the 2003 general manager's winter meetings to look for future job opportunities and contacts. In July 2006, Baseball America named him one of baseball's "10 to watch" in the next 10 years for his promise as a farm director and future general manager. In August 2006, the Diamondbacks named Hinch director of player development.

Hinch was named manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks on May 8, 2009, replacing Bob Melvin, even though he had never managed or coached a team at any level. Hinch, at age 34 years and 357 days, became the youngest person to be named manager of a Major League team since Eric Wedge (34 years, 275 days).[2]

Hinch was fired from the Diamondbacks on July 1, 2010,[3] following a 31–48 start to the 2010 season.[4] Overall, Hinch compiled an 89–123 record in 212 games.[4] His .420 winning percentage ranks as the second lowest in Diamondbacks history, just ahead of Al Pedrique.

San Diego Padres

Hinch was hired by the San Diego Padres as vice president of professional scouting on September 21, 2010.[5]

He resigned from his position on August 5, 2014.[6]

Houston Astros

Hinch was named manager of the Houston Astros on September 29, 2014, replacing Bo Porter, who was fired on September 1, 2014.[7] In the 2015 season, Hinch led the Astros to an 86–76 record and a wild card berth. It was Houston's first playoff appearance since 2005. In the Wild Card Game, the Astros defeated the New York Yankees in Yankee Stadium 3–0 to advance to the American League Division Series. In the ALDS, Hinch's Astros took a 2–1 series lead against the Kansas City Royals. The Astros led the Royals 6–2 in Game 4 going into the 8th inning before the Royals came back to win 9–6. The Astros would go on to lose the series.

In 2016, Houston began the season 7–17. Although the team's play improved during the course of the season, the Astros finished 84–78 and did not qualify for the playoffs.

In 2017, Hinch led the Astros to a club record of 50 wins in 74 games and finished the regular season 101–61 while the team won their first division title in 16 years and first since joining the American League. The 2017 postseason began at home for the Astros. Hinch guided the team past the Boston Red Sox in four games, with his decision to have Justin Verlander pitch in relief in the deciding Game 4 receiving attention.[8] In the 2017 American League Championship Series, he led the Astros against the New York Yankees in Houston's first championship series appearance in 12 years. After his team won the first two games at home, the Yankees rallied with three wins in New York, with Game 4's loss resulting from the bullpen giving up six combined runs in the 7th and 8th after he had taken out pitcher Lance McCullers Jr after only six innings.[9] With a pivotal Game 6 in Houston and Justin Verlander on the mound, the Astros won the game 7–1. In Game 7, he chose Charlie Morton (who went five innings) as his starting pitcher and McCullers to pitch the final four in relief as the Astros shutout the Yankees 4–0 to clinch their first ever AL pennant and first overall pennant in 12 years to advance to the 2017 World Series, which they would go on to win in 7 games. He utilized the same four pitchers that he used in the ALCS (Dallas Keuchel, Justin Verlander, Lance McCullers and Charlie Morton) for the World Series, although only McCullers and Morton would receive wins as two relievers (Chris Devenski and Joe Musgrove) also received wins. He led the Astros to their first World Series victory, defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–3 in the 7 game series. In the final game, he had Morton pitch the final four innings as the Astros won 5–1 to clinch their first ever title. With the win, Hinch has the most playoff victories as a manager of the Astros, with 14, eclipsing the previous record of 13 by Phil Garner.[10]

On August 30, 2018, the Astros signed Hinch to a four year extension that will keep him as manager until at least the 2022 season. [11]

Managerial record

As of games played on October 13, 2018
Team From To Regular season record Post-season record
G W L Win % G W L Win %
Arizona Diamondbacks 2009 2010 212 89 123 .420 —
Houston Astros 2015 Present 648 374 274 .577 28 18 10 .643
Total 860 463 397 .538 28 18 10 .643
Ref.:[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ KKFL. Hinch Hired, KKFL, 11/29/2005.
  2. ^ "D-backs name Hinch as fifth manager in club history". MLB.com. 2009-05-08. Archived from the original on 2011-06-10. Retrieved 2009-09-26. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Diamondbacks make it official: GM Josh Byrnes and manager A.J. Hinch out". USA Today. July 1, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "A.J. Hinch". Baseball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  5. ^ Padres hire A.J. Hinch in scouting department – SignOnSanDiego.com
  6. ^ Padres assistant GM A.J. Hinch leaves team
  7. ^ http://m.astros.mlb.com/news/article/96996878/astros-set-to-hand-managerial-reins-to-aj-hinch
  8. ^ http://m.mlb.com/news/article/258041670/alds-game-4-aj-hinch-postgame-interview/
  9. ^ http://www.chron.com/sports/astros/article/Astros-manager-AJ-Hinch-reflects-Game-4-decisions-12288326.php
  10. ^ McTaggart, Brian; Gurnick, Ken. "Houston Astros win 2017 World Series". MLB. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  11. ^ https://sportstalk790.iheart.com/featured/what-s-on-matt-s-mind/content/2018-08-30-aj-hinch-get-contract-extension-from-the-astros/?Sc=editorial&Pname=local_social&Keyid=socialflow
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