The Detroit Tigers have signed manager A.J. Hinch to a contract extension.
The 51-year-old has been the Tigers’ manager since October 2020, when he rebounded from a one-year suspension as a result of the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal.
Advertisement
Hinch has a 394-416 record across five seasons with the Tigers.
The contract extension happened at some point during the 2025 season.
“I absolutely love working with A.J.,” president of baseball operations Scott Harris said, announcing the extension Monday, Oct. 13, at an end-of-season news conference at Comerica Park. “I think he’s one of the best managers in the game.”
MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers’ A.J. Hinch: His peers consider him ‘one of the best managers in the game’
Detroit Tigers team president Scott Harris, left, and team manager A.J. Hinch speak to the press in an end of season press conference at Comerica Park on Monday, Oct. 13, 2025.
The Tigers declined to share contract details.
It’s unclear if Hinch is under contract longer than Harris.
Advertisement
“We have an organizational policy to not share terms for non-player contracts,” Harris said. “We will share all terms for player contracts, but we’re not going to share terms for ours.”
Celebrate 125 years of Tigers baseball!
Hinch didn’t have a winning season in his first three years, but in the past two years, both with Harris leading the front office, he has led the Tigers to back-to-back ALDS appearances in the MLB postseason — falling short in a decisive Game 5 both times.
Hinch has managed 1,832 games in his 12-year career: 212 with the Arizona Diamondbacks (2009-10), 810 with the Astros (2015-19) and 810 with the Tigers (2021-25).
Advertisement
“I’m so happy being in Detroit,” said Hinch, who won a World Series as the Astros’ manager. “I’m so proud to be the manager here. I love working for Scott. It’s the second time that I was approached and asked for more, and it’s an immediate yes for me.”
ALDS GAME 5: Tigers’ A.J. Hinch explains ‘easy decision’ to pull Tarik Skubal at 99 pitches
When Hinch joined the Tigers, his initial contract was set to expire after the 2025 season, but he signed a contract extension for “a long time” after the 2023 season. None of the contract details have ever been disclosed by the Tigers.
Hinch was hired by then-general manager Al Avila in 2020 and extended by Harris in 2023 and 2025.
Advertisement
“We have now proactively extended him twice because we want him to be here as long as he’s willing to be here,” Harris said, “and I want to work with him as long as I can possibly work with him.”
In October 2023, Hinch signed his contract extension almost immediately after the season ended. Since then, other managers have set the managerial market with record-breaking contracts.
In November 2023, Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell signed a five-year contract worth more than $40 million. In July 2024, Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora secured a three-year, $21.75 million contract extension.
“I can’t tell you how proud I am to be the manager of the Tigers,” Hinch said. “It’s a rewarding place to be. We bought a home here. We live here the majority of the year. We continue to be thrilled to become more and more Michiganders as a family.”
Advertisement
Hinch is determined to win a World Series with the Tigers.
“From Chris (Ilitch, owner) to Jeff (Greenberg, general manager) to Scott, all of us are on board to bring a World Series here,” Hinch said, “and that’s why I want to be here.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon on demand at freep.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.Â
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch receives contract extension