The Mets are expected to hire Eric Hinske as their new assistant hitting coach, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (Twitter link). As Rosenthal points out, Mets GM Billy Eppler also hired Hinske to serve as the Angels’ hitting coach for the 2018 season, back when Eppler was the general manager in Anaheim (though Hinske was replaced after just one year in that role).
Hinske, 45, was the American League Rookie of the Year for the Blue Jays in 2002 when he batted .279/.365/.481 with 24 home runs, 38 doubles and a pair of triples. He went on to enjoy a 12-year career playing at the MLB level, splitting up that time among the Jays, Red Sox, Braves, Rays, D-backs, Pirates and Yankees. In 4310 career big league plate appearances, Hinske hit .249/.332/.430 with 137 home runs, 240 doubles, a 10.5% walk rate and a 22% strikeout rate while logging time at third base, first base and in both outfield corners.
Since retiring, Hinske has worked in a variety of coaching roles throughout the league. In addition to his stint as Angels’ hitting coach, he’s also been the assistant hitting coach for both the D-backs and the Cubs (including during their 2016 World Series win). Hinske also served as Chicago’s first base coach prior to his time as assistant hitting coach at Wrigley.
Hinske’s hiring comes on the heels of some other coaching maneuvering by the Mets earlier in the winter. Hitting coach Eric Chavez was promoted to bench coach under manager Buck Showalter back in November, and in a corresponding move, then-assistant hitting coach Jeremy Barnes was elevated to the title of hitting coach.
MLB staff look like clones of each other.
Sure they’re not boys?
BREAKING NEWS: The Giants are now officially out on Arson Judge & Taint Correa!!!
You mean Carlos Korea?
Texas Ranger: That joke is about as old as Jacob DeGrom’s 12 year old repaired UCL.
Not quite as old as Verlander and Scherzer… I believe they fought together in WW1.
@DeGrom Texas Ranger- yeah but doesn’t he work at Taco Bell for all the benefits there? And for all them hot looking Spanish chics that don’t speak a word of English.
He said “Taint”!
I feel the Mets should be charged with tampering, so they could lose all their draft picks.
Most likely signed for 5 yrs, 125 million. Even the Mets ushers make 5 million per so an assistant hitting coach must be worth at least 20
The salt is strong with this one… LFGM!
Good hire by the Mets. I always thought the Cubs blundered when they let him go.
The Cubs offense stagnated after 2016.
Brad Lidge approves of this hiring.
Hinske certainly knows how to start a celebration.
But can he coach Correa how to pass a physical?
Can the Mets now circle back to a Correa deal?
Pending a physical of course.
Hurry on, Hosmer: Sign anywhere during the next hours and make today the official Eric H-day!
Gruß,
BSHH
Greatest Jay that ever lived.
Definitely one of the best power sinker hitters I’ve ever seen, a ball could be thrown in the dirt at the plate, and Hinske could still hit it.
Papa Vladdy is the best bad ball hitter I’ve ever seen
The difference between “one of the best” and “best,” right there.
Kirby Puckett was the best bad ball hitter I’ve ever seen.
He hit a lot of things he shouldn’t have, if I recall
Pappy Vladdy or Kirby?
Kirby, as in women
That’s a good one too, CJ99. Forgot about Kirby!
Hinske might be the only individual in MLB who has a World Series ring from the Yankees, Red Sox, and Cubs. Not bad at all to have WS rings from those classic teams!
Let’s just hope he doesn’t hit dire straits and starts selling them.
if he hits Dire Straits we can call him the Sultan Of Swing.
Or he could do the walk of life to first
as much as this is a good hire, to some…. I wish they’d have left this part alone. I was quite satisfied with Chavez’s coaching with hitting last year. the team hit rather well. I hope they don’t take a nose dive.
I was thinking that Chavez was being groomed to take Buck’s place in a year or so.
Good man to have in the dugout if there’s a bases-clearing scrum.
Diesel!