MLB WINTER MEETINGS

December 6, 2022

A.J. Hinch

Detroit Tigers

Press Conference

Q. Before talking about roster and stuff, it didn't come to pass, but what did it mean to you that MLB reached out to you and asked you to manage the U.S. team in Korea?

A.J. HINCH: That would have been incredible. That would have been incredible. An experience for everybody. Obviously get to meet a lot of players around the league. Get to experience something I've never done before, represent the league and the Tigers.

And also there were a couple of staff members that were going to go that were on previous staffs of mine, which would have been great to reconnect with them. But obviously it's a huge honor. I have great respect for the commissioner's office for reaching out.

When Mike Hill called, it was a pretty immediate yes, despite it was at the end of the season when you're at an empty tank.

But unfortunately it got canceled. But would love to do it again unless we're in the playoffs.

Q. Validation too for all that you went through back in the scandal thing, and then through that and now that you're back they're asking you to do something to represent the league?

A.J. HINCH: I don't know if I'd use the word "validation" as much as I just appreciate that they give me the chance to do more good than have that define my entire career. I do appreciate that. It's something I'll never forget, obviously, the lessons I learned from it. But I appreciate MLB reaching out.

Q. The recent tenders, Candelario, the Castros and Victor, makes sense from a baseball perspective. But from a personal perspective, teammates, how much of a loss?

A.J. HINCH: You grow close with these guys. I have in a short period of time, and obviously those that have been in the clubhouse the longest. Guys like Miggy, Joe, Soto. Schoop, been teammates with them for a long time, had a lot of good experiences.

As I said last night, these guys are great people, great teammates. And we had no problems and there was no -- it was a baseball decision and a business decision to change the look and feel of our team.

And those are consequences that come when you don't win enough and you've got to make moves. So I loved my time with them, the exchanges I've had with them via texts since they've gone, have been universally positive.

But it will feel like a different clubhouse just because of the volume of change that's gone on in and around the team.

Q. How much did Joey Wentz's stretch run and what he did it change your outlook on him?

A.J. HINCH: I think we've been waiting for Joey to take a step forward. And really all he needed was health and opportunity. And he finally had both. And I think for him it's a great impression to make, lasting impression, when you finish the season the way he did.

Like I said to you in September, we don't love the September evaluation as the primary part of it. But on a kind of bigger picture, I think he's established himself in the mix for any role in the big leagues that he can get the ball over the plate.

He can hit swing and miss inside the zone. He can bounce back. The velo started to creep up again. The secondary pitch landed. All things that he took into the fall league.

And I'm probably more impressed or equally as impressed with what he did in the fall league after coming down from the big leagues, going into the fall league, where, less people, less stress, less notoriety, less of an entire environment. And he maintained what he was doing.

Q. Spencer Torkelson struggled in the Major Leagues, also struggled, went back down to Triple-A. What in your assessment was wrong, and what do you need to see him improve in the next year?

A.J. HINCH: There's nothing wrong as much as he needs time to develop. You're going to hear this from us and from me a lot, that we've got to give an avenue for guys to come up, succeed, fail, bounce back, make adjustments.

I know in this day and age we want everybody to rocket to the big leagues. They're getting to the big leagues quickly, expected to make fast adjustments and be the player they're going to be right out of the gate. It wasn't the case for Spencer.

But he learned a lot. It's probably the first time he's really struggled at baseball, and specifically hitting. And when he came back, he was in a much better mental space, a much better physical space to be good.

So we've been in touch with him. I've texted back and forth with him quite a bit. Connected with him. Two of our hitting coaches live in Phoenix. He'll have some interaction with those guys before camp.

But he's in a good place, the way he finished, probably more so emotionally than anything.

Q. How big of a deal do you think the new hitting department is going to be for a guy like Torkelson?

A.J. HINCH: We hope it's good for everybody. Obviously, it's kind of -- wholesale change, it's hard to get to that point because I don't want it to come across like they're to blame.

I think our department was very talented, very good. But when you make different change, different voices, introductions, new set of eyes, now times three, that are looking at these guys, they're going to hopefully unlock whatever it takes for him to reach his potential.

So I think it will be -- he's a perfect example of, like, I don't know which guy's going to make the biggest inroads with him, I don't which guys will have the best relationship with him, I don't know which one's going to have the help that all of our hitters need. But each individual guy is going to figure that out.

Q. Do you think it was an approach situation or a swing mechanic situation, how do you assess it?

A.J. HINCH: Probably all the above. We're facing the best people in the world. And he was doing it at a super young age with very few at-bats in the minor leagues to reflect on.

So obviously didn't talk to Tork, probably part mechanical, part approach, part trying to survive, trying to stay up. Looking up on the scoreboard seeing numbers he'd never seen before next to his name. All those are big hills to climb.

So I think the more consistent he can become with his setup, his pitch decision-making is pretty good. Hit bat-to-ball skills is really good. Ironically for more reasons he was missing more balls inside the strike zone than Chase. But he's going to be a pretty good player. No worry about that.

Q. (Indiscernible) had a job working with Soto and Tatis and Machado. How did you pitch him coming to the Tigers?

A.J. HINCH: I think some familiarity with the area and Michigan helped. I think the opportunity to come and be part of something that we're building was important to him. Standing relationship with Fet (phonetic) helped.

In that meeting in Vegas I was trying to duck all you guys while I was getting out of the hotel went well. He's a rising star in this game. I talked to Bob about him, Bob Melvin, about him quite a bit. They were very reluctant to give us permission to talk to him. They had no problems with him. And we just continued on.

And it's a perfect match for our organization given what he brings to the table and in terms of his demeanor, his approach, his communication skills.

The fact he taught himself to write code in college is remarkable. He won't be writing code for us, but we're very lucky and fortunate to get the permission that we did.

Q. We've talked to you a little bit about adjusting to the rule changes. You exploited shifts as well as anybody, probably better. As you study it, is there a loophole for you to maybe use the same kind of hit data? Obviously you can't put the players exactly where you want, but you still feel like that could be a difference maker?

A.J. HINCH: I don't know if we're going to do the extra outfielder and abandon all the things you hear people creatively trying to come up with. I'll probably try anything.

But I think it's going to enhance our need to get our infielders to have the versatility and the agility that's needed to cover the whole position from the dirt.

I think second basemen around the league got used to playing from a huge distance in the back and especially Schoop having his arm make up for any distance he wanted to play in the back is really going to be different.

I think the exploitation is going to be -- no one will go up try to hit hard ground balls to the right side. They'll get rewarded for some of the mistakes.

To defend that, the agility part of the right side of the infield -- we'll be reminded that that's an important skill set for our infielders.

Q. How about the work on the other side?

A.J. HINCH: Javi is used to playing on that side more than anywhere. I think, again, having the space, I think it's going to be very, very critical. When we had Ryan Kreidler up in September and seeing his range at third base and at shortstop, that was notable. But I think guys are going to have to get used to playing -- they're not going to have to relearn it. They didn't forget how to play in open space.

But that pre-pitch setup that we talk about quite a bit, the hop we talk about quite a bit, the first step quickness, reaction time, things we can all measure now, are going to be dug in on pretty deeply.

Q. Can Schoop play anywhere other than second next season?

A.J. HINCH: Yeah, I think he can play a couple different positions. I think first base will still be an option for him. I think third base is going to be an option for him. Depends on how the roster is built and what other guys we have available to us.

But I know you guys heard this from me the last couple of years, the importance of versatility. I was playing infielders in the outfield. I was putting a catcher at left field. I'm very much interested in a team that I get as many options as I can to put together a lineup and put together a defensive alignment. And Scott's in line with that wholeheartedly.

Q. You mentioned it, but how do you view the rule changes impacting his defense at second base which was so good last season?

A.J. HINCH: I think he'll be fine. I think obviously for Jonathan relies so heavily on his arm to make some of those outs above-average that he made last year. There were a lot of throw plays. Not as many range plays as they were, the makeup for his arm.

The turn's going to be the same. The mobility around second base is going to be something that we hammer home with him. He's sending me videos every day or ever other day about all the agility drills he's doing back home. He's making a statement.

Q. When you came to the Tigers, part of it was appealing it was like they were within striking distance, within contention. Going into your third year, do you still feel that way?

A.J. HINCH: I think we can win here. I want to win. It's something that Scott and I have talked about a ton. We'll be doing multiple things at the same time while we're breaking in young talent trying to win that day's game, play as deep as you can and make a run at the playoffs.

That hasn't changed since the day I got here. But it's been enhanced by Scott's vision of coming here from a really, really good job in his hometown and taking on the challenge to do it and partner up.

So I think for me, the message to the players is not a ton dissimilar to what I've been saying where we've got to win more series. We've got to play better in our division. We've got to have way better at-bats for us to be competitive, and we need to focus on those things that lead to the wins, not just some grand total that we're going to need to be relevant.

Q. Is there a difference when you're making a recruiting pitch to free agents compared to last in terms of last year pitching Detroit is the place to take roots and it sounds like now there's a little bit more of Detroit is a place where you can improve your game?

A.J. HINCH: Scott just got here. I think his vision being articulated by him and me and others is something that's important from the get-go.

I think the message is the same. We want you to come here if you want to win and if you want to get better. Whatever order you want to put those in.

They both need to happen for any of us to feel good about where we're at. So I don't know if it's changed as much as it takes me a little longer to get through the staff changes that we've made in the pitch, takes Scott a while to get through and to articulate his vision. They've become a little bit of a longer interaction because we have a lot to talk about to set up whether somebody wants to come in.

Q. Speaking of change, going from Al to Scott, do you think that impacts you as a manager very much? If so, how?

A.J. HINCH: Everybody's different to work for. And whether it's responsible -- I'll give you an example. I did all the medical updates. Now we're giving out a medical update sheet. Different practices, different processes, expectations from how we're going to run the day to day from one boss to another.

It's been different from Josh Byrnes in Arizona to Jeff Luhnow to Al to Scott, the general managers I've worked for. That's a little bit different. But I think everything can be a little different. Everybody values things differently. Scott didn't answer the question on every single thing he values. But I think the interaction with anybody is different.

Q. Who does Scott most comp too in your old bosses in that way?

A.J. HINCH: You want me to comp my boss? (Laughter) Who is the most elite boss I've ever had in my life? I'm not dumb. This is not my first time at this podium.

Obviously worked under Theo and Jedd. I never worked for Theo, but I worked for Jedd. I don't think it's fair necessarily to compare them.

But I know he has no off button. He can match working hours with me or anybody else that I've ever worked with.

I think his continuous learning, his curiosity, decision-making processes, I'd rather describe him as elite across the board, and you can pair him with anyone you want.

Q. You've been part of the pursuit of a lot of free agents all shapes and sizes and ages. Are you surprised by how much money and how many years have gone just this week to free agents on the other side of 30, 35, 40?

A.J. HINCH: I love the fact that it's early. Just for the players, their stability, teams building teams and I'm speaking more on behalf of the players. Like, it's good for players to have a landing spot early and have teams step up and pay them accordingly.

So markets have been, across my time in the game, have been so bizarre. And certainly last year, when we had the flurry at the end, before the lockout, that sort of signaled a little bit what's ahead, where players and teams are coming to the table and coming to agreements faster.

But I love it for the players because these guys are people. They want to know where they're going they're certainly getting rewarded for what they're doing. Massive contracts that are going out. People are changing teams.

I don't see a huge downside for players, but I'm not an agent.

Q. Every big contract is going to be a player about to turn 30, 35, 40. Is it a sign --

A.J. HINCH: No 48-year-olds?

Q. Not that I've noticed. But is it a sign that teams are reevaluating the aging process and the impact of aging in any way?

A.J. HINCH: I don't know. That's probably for Scott. But I think it signals more and more teams are trying to line their team up to win, and this is what it's taken to get these players to commit to come.

Again, I think agreements are the best thing that happens in the game, because when you have players and teams so far apart, it's no fun for anybody covering the game. It's no fun for any of us in the dugout or the fans.

Q. (Question about watching former players win the World Series).

A.J. HINCH: I'm proud of them. It's hard to get to the finish line. I've been part of one that got to the finish line. I've been part of one that didn't and a couple near misses. Winning the World Series is hard. And a lot of friends, former friends, and part of the medical staff is still there. Carl, the clubhouse manager, ushers, officers.

There's a lot of relationships that have developed over time. And seeing their faces and their joy, and for them, personally, I think is really cool, obviously. I want to beat them, tried to beat them in September and they came into Detroit smoking hot and it didn't work.

But clearly my relationships with a lot of people in the organization and around the organization remain super positive.

Q. A.J., given what Gregory went through last year, the highs and the lows, it's early. Obviously a lot can change.

A.J. HINCH: Am I already getting the closer question?

Q. I just wondered in general if that's an open competition.

A.J. HINCH: Listen, I don't know. I guess in some ways I'm saying yes because -- I don't know. I'm not really fixated on that.

I think we need to look long and hard at how our pen is going to be put together. Obviously, as it stands today, a lot of the same names. And whether that remains a lot of the same roles I guess will be determined.

I love Gregory Soto, the impact that he has on the game; the fear that's instilled when he comes in. There could be an extra walk in there. There could be a little bit of a walk a fine line. But there are just not a lot of guys like him that walk around the league left-handed throwing 100 with the pitch metrics that he has.

We've got to continue to get him inside the strike zone. The more he does that, the more he earns the back end of the game. So it's going to be tied to strike-throwing. We're always going to nudge him a little bit, maybe not declare always what we're going to do with him until we get him in the strike zone more often.

Q. You've seen young players come up the last two years. What's it been as the season, reflect on player development as a whole what happened over the past year since Ryan Garko has took over?

A.J. HINCH: Gark's done a tremendous job, built a great staff. It's fully connected in a lot of areas that's important at the Major League level to be connected to, whether that's the pitching side.

We're getting our hitting department, our hitting guys are down in Florida at a little mini camp that's going on at Lakeland. Getting introduced to some of the top prospects around and the hitting coaching, the coordinators. That to me is nothing but positive.

But Gark's influence on the process has been immense. How thorough he's been is exactly what this organization needs to get the processes in place in the minors that we're going to duplicate in the big leagues.

Q. What have you heard from Spencer Turnbull?

A.J. HINCH: Texting back and forth with Bull. He's doing well. He's not in Lakeland. He's back home. He got to take a little bit of a break. Sent me some video the other day throwing off the mound. And we were going back and forth on some personal things. He's doing great.

He's in a really good place. I think conquering or having a goal of the spring as an active player for the first time, he wants to not be a rehabber. He wants to get back to being a baseball player again.

He was in good spirits. Our training staff is connected with him. Fet, I'm sure he talked to him. I didn't talk to Fet about him. But this year is so much different than last year given that we can have these interactions. Some of our players text me back and forth.

I just talked to Miggy the other day when he announced this was going to be his last year. And texting back and forth with -- Javi turned 30 the other day.

It's nice to be able to continue your relationship and not have that quiet period.

Q. Wish I could have seen that Javi exchange.

A.J. HINCH: You didn't see me at the party?

Q. Are you expecting the shift changes or the pace of play rules to require more work in Spring Training on your part?

A.J. HINCH: The pace of play or shift rules. I would say that the clock is going to be a bigger adjustment than where we play. Where we play is going to be very, very standard and guys will get used to that very quickly. How fast it's going to feel for pitchers and hitters that are egregiously over the time limit is going to be a big adjustment.

I'm more concerned with the hitting side than I am the pitching side. I think the pitching side will make an adjustment relatively quickly. The young pitchers, certainly in our camp, are going to have had it before -- Eduardo works relatively fast. Some bullpen guys will have to get a little quicker. The hitters are going to probably bark the loudest.

Q. Are you glad this starts day one of Spring Training?

A.J. HINCH: I want to do it in September when they start talking about it, for non-playoff, contending teams, we should have started last September.

I'm glad that we get a six-week -- a lot of these rule changes that have happened, they've been kind of gracefully introduced. And there's not going to be a big reprimand. I don't think you're going to hear -- it's going to fall on coaches and the umpires to stay very disciplined with that because you're not going to be able to just turn it on on Opening Day.

These guys are so used to their routines that you can't get lax in that area or the hitters are going to stress out. Hard enough to hit nowadays anyway.