(WXYZ) — The Detroit Tigers announced Friday they have signed former Houston Astros Manager A.J. Hinch to a multi-year contract to be Detroit's next manager.
He will become the 39th manager in the team's history.
The Detroit Tigers today named A.J. Hinch as the 39th manager in franchise history, agreeing to terms on a multi-year contract. pic.twitter.com/AHALJU1wGw
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) October 30, 2020
Hinch, 46, was fired by the Astros along with GM Jeff Luhnow on Jan. 13 after the cheating scandal. He was also suspended by the MLB last season. Those suspensions ended when the World Series wrapped up.
“I’d like to thank Chris Ilitch and Al Avila for giving me a chance and the opportunity to get back in the dugout to lead this historic ballclub,” said Hinch. “The last year was the most difficult of my life. It gave me time to reflect, which was such a big part of this process. Everything that has transpired over the past year, personally and professionally, has put so much in perspective for me, and re-enforced how important it is to do things with integrity and honesty.”
Having a talented young core of players, dedicated leadership group and passionate fan base was exactly what I was looking for in a team, and it’s clear we have that here in Detroit. It’s time to start playing winning baseball, and I am confident this organization is positioned to make that happen," he added.
He will replace Ron Gardenhire, who abruptly retired on Sept. 19 over health concerns.
Earlier this month, GM Al Avila said that he wouldn't eliminate anyone as a managerial candidate, even with the cheating scandal.
“The cheating scandal is not a good thing, obviously," he said. "They’re serving their suspensions, and once their suspensions are over, then they’ll be free to pursue their careers. So we have not eliminated anybody from our list at this point.”
