The Detroit Tigers blew a historic lead to the Cleveland Guardians in the second half, but the organization still believes in manager A.J. Hinch.
Hinch, 51, agreed to a contract extension with the team, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris announced Monday. Harris did not reveal the length or value of Hinch’s extension.
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After sitting out during the 2020 MLB season due to a suspension as a result of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal, Hinch signed on with the Tigers ahead of the 2021 season.
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Things started poorly. The Tigers failed to post winning records in Hinch’s first three seasons with the club. But that changed in 2024, when the Tigers surprisingly won 86 games and reached the playoffs. The team nearly went on a magical run in the postseason, winning its wild-card round matchup against the Astros before falling to the Guardians in five games in the division series.
Hinch and the Tigers proved that wasn’t a fluke in 2025. The Tigers surged to a strong start and nearly carried that momentum to a division title. But a late collapse, in which the team went 7-17 in September, saw the Tigers finish second in the American League Central behind the Guardians. Detroit got the better of Cleveland in the wild-card round, however, and took the Seattle Mariners to five games before being eliminated from the 2025 MLB postseason.
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In five seasons with the Tigers, Hinch is 394-416, good for a .486 winning percentage. Prior to joining the franchise, Hinch experienced plenty of success with the Astros. In Houston, he won a World Series, two American League pennants and posted a .594 winning percentage over five seasons.
He was fired by the team after it was discovered that members of the franchise used technology to steal signs from opponents. While Hinch was reportedly against the practice, he did nothing to stop it, leading to a one-year suspension.
He served that suspension away from the game, as Hinch was fired by the Astros the same day the suspension was announced.
