When the Houston Astros hired A.J. Hinch to be their manager for the 2015 season, there was little thought that he could become one of their most successful skippers in franchise history.
After all, he was taking over for Bo Porter who went 110-190 in two seasons at the helm.
In Hinch's first season, he led the Astros to a 86-76 record and clinched a wild card berth, their first playoff appearance since 2005. They swept the New York Yankees that year before losing in the ALDS to the Kansas City Royals.
That was a sign success might be around the corner.
Sure enough, in Hinch's third season as manager, Houston won 101 games and clinched their first division title since 2001. Their incredible regular season was capped by winning the franchise's first ever World Series championship.
He signed a four-year contract extension in 2018 after becoming the winningest postseason manager in Astros' history.
Following their World Series loss to the Washington Nationals in 2019, stuff hit the fan when Major League Baseball started investigating Houston for their infamous cheating scandal.
Hinch was one of the casualties that came from the ruling. He was suspended for a year and was fired by Houston's owner Jim Crane the same day the punishment was announced.
Following the 2020 season, Hinch was hired as the next manager of the Detroit Tigers.
During his three seasons at the helm, the Tigers have a record of 221-265, but did finish second in the AL West division, their highest finish since 2016.
Now, according to Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic, Detroit has announced a contract extension for Hinch.
"They are not disclosing the terms. His previous deal ran through 2025. The new deal was completed the week after the season ended," he reported on social media.
Hinch has been tasked with overseeing the rebuild that the Tigers are undergoing and being the stabilizing force within a young locker room that is looking to take next steps like the Astros once did under his leadership.
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