Eric Hinske

Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox baseball biography Eric Scott Hinske (born August 5, 1977) is an American professional baseball coach and former outfielder and first baseman. Hinske played in the major leagues from 2002 to 2013 with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Tampa Bay Rays, Pittsburgh Pirates, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves and Arizona Diamondbacks at third base, first base, left field, and right field. He won the Template:By AL Rookie of the Year Award with the Blue Jays. He has also been a coach for the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Angels.

Amateur career

Born in Menasha, Wisconsin, Hinske played for Menasha High School where he broke many hitting records, in addition to playing football as a running back.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He initially intended to play football and baseball at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh, which was 15 minutes from his home.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>

The University of Arkansas ultimately offered him a full scholarship to play baseball. Between 1996 and 1998, he hit .345 during his time at Arkansas. He also ranked within the top 10 in school history for several offensive categories, including RBI, runs scored, and extra base hits. In 1997, Hinske set a school record with 87 runs scored.<ref name=":0" />

In 1997, he played collegiate summer baseball for the Hyannis Mets of the Cape Cod Baseball League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Professional career

Chicago Cubs

The Chicago Cubs selected Hinske in the 17th round of the 1998 amateur draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He began his professional career in Short Season A-ball with the Williamsport Cubs of the New York-Penn League.<ref name=":0" /> After hitting .298 with nine home runs and 57 RBI over 68 games, he moved over to the Rockford Cubbies of the Midwest League.

Hinske spent most of the 1999 season in High-A with the Daytona Cubs of the Florida State League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had an All-Star year, hitting .259 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 131 games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2000, Hinske played for the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx in Double-A. He hit .259 with 20 home runs and 73 RBI in 131 games for the Southern League champions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics acquired Hinske from the Cubs for Miguel Cairo on March 28, 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hinske was assigned to Triple-A Sacramento for the 2001 season. He hit .282 with 25 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 79 RBI in 121 for the River Cats.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Toronto Blue Jays

On December 7, 2001, Toronto Blue Jays general manager J. P. Ricciardi acquired Hinske and reliever Justin Miller from the Athletics for Billy Koch, a move designed to bring youth and vitality to the team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hinske was inserted in the everyday lineup in 2002, playing third base. While criticized early for his defense,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he made up for it with his bat, hitting .279 with 24 home runs, 13 stolen bases, and 84 RBI. He is one of three rookies in Blue Jays history to hit 21 or more home runs, along with J. P. Arencibia (23 in 2011) and Rowdy Tellez (21 in 2019).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also led all AL third basemen in errors, with 22. Hinske won the MLB Rookie of the Year<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Sporting News Rookie of the Year awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Following Hinske's successful 2002 campaign, the Blue Jays signed him to a five-year, $14.75 million contract in March 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He struggled during the first two months of the season, hitting just .230 with two home runs through May 23.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hinske was finally diagnosed with a broken hamate bone in his right hand and underwent surgery, missing a month of playing time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a result, he was unable to match his numbers of the previous year, finishing with an average of .243, 12 home runs and 63 RBI in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hinske was still unable to return to his rookie form in 2004, finishing the year with a batting average of .246, with 15 home runs and 69 RBI. A positive note for Hinske was that he had committed a career-low seven errors at third base and led all third baseman in fielding percentage (.978). After the season, the Blue Jays were said to be looking to trade Hinske.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Instead, the team ultimately acquired third basemen Corey Koskie<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> and Shea Hillenbrand,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and moved Hinske to first base.<ref name=":1" /> He started the 2005 season strong with a .290 batting average, six home runs, and 25 RBI through the end of May.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, he hit just .247 with nine home runs and 43 RBI the rest of the way.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Toronto acquired Lyle Overbay<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Troy Glaus<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after the 2005 season, forcing Hinske to shift to the outfield.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He began the 2006 season in a platoon with Alex Ríos in right field, before the latter won the job after a solid April.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hinske gained playing time when Rios was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a staph infection suffered after fouling a ball off his leg.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Following the high-profile exit of Hillenbrand in July, Hinske gained even more opportunity to play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Boston Red Sox

Hinske with the Boston Red Sox in 2007

On August 17, 2006, Hinske was traded to the Boston Red Sox for a minor league player to be named later and cash considerations.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His versatility helped the Red Sox, since they were greatly plagued by injuries in the second half of the season. He played first base and both corner outfield positions, and hit .342 in the last month of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On May 17, 2007, Hinske had what could be considered the highlight of his Red Sox career against the Detroit Tigers. In the 5th inning of the game, Mike Rabelo hit a fly ball that seemed destined to find a hole.in right field. However, Hinske made a full-body diving catch, hitting the warning track face first. Later, in the bottom of the 7th inning, he would hit a go-ahead two-run home run.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hinske hit below his career norms with a .204 batting average and a .733 OPS in 84 games that year. He was included on the Red Sox playoff roster and received his first World Series ring with them.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tampa Bay Rays

Hinske batting for the Tampa Bay Rays on April 24, 2008.

On February 6, 2008, Hinske signed a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was added to the 40-man major league roster on March 29, and was the Rays opening-day right-fielder.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his Rays debut, Hinske homered to right field off Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On July 29, Hinske hit his 100th career home run off former Toronto Blue Jays teammate Roy Halladay. There was controversy as to whether or not it was an inside the park home run. It was later officially ruled a traditional home run, after it was thought to have hit an awning in center field.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On the final day of the regular season, Hinske hit his 20th home run, drove in his 60th run, and stole his 10th base of the year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was the first time he had hit twenty home runs since his rookie year of 2002, and the first time he had stolen ten bases or more since the 2004 season.

Hinske was on the team's initial playoff roster but did not play in the American League Division Series and was replaced by Edwin Jackson for the ALCS.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Prior to Game 4 of the World Series, Hinske was added to the Rays' roster, replacing the injured Cliff Floyd. In the fifth inning of Game 4, Hinske hit an estimated 410-foot pinch-hit home run to center field off Philadelphia starter Joe Blanton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made the final out of the World Series, striking out against Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge in Game 5.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Pittsburgh Pirates

Hinske with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009

On January 30, 2009, Hinske signed a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Pirates worth $1.5 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He missed time in spring training after injuring his rib cage running into the outfield wall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hinske played 54 games for the team, batting .255 with 11 RBI and 17 walks mostly off the bench.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New York Yankees

Hinske with the Yankees in 2009

On June 30, Hinske was traded from the Pirates to the New York Yankees in exchange for Eric Fryer and Casey Erickson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With New York he hit .226 with seven home runs in 84 at-bats over 39 games. Hinske was included in the Yankees' initial postseason roster for the first round of the 2009 American League Division Series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was replaced by pinch runner Freddy Guzman for the 2009 American League Championship Series,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but returned to the roster for the World Series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This marked his third straight World Series appearance with his third different team, all from the AL East. Additionally, the Yankees win gave him his second World Series ring.

Atlanta Braves

Hinske with the Atlanta Braves

On January 5, 2010, it was reported that Hinske signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with the Atlanta Braves.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his first Braves at-bat he hit a triple.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He hit his first home run as a Brave on May 16.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With the Braves fighting for the NL Wild Card spot over the last week of the season, Hinske delivered a clutch go-ahead, two-run home run against the Marlins on September 29.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over the season, he appeared in 131 games, hitting .256 with 11 home runs and 51 RBI. He hit three home runs and drove in 12 runs as a pinch-hitter.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>

He made it to the postseason for the fourth straight year and hit a dramatic go-ahead, pinch-hit, two-run home run in the eighth inning of Game 3 of the NLDS against the San Francisco Giants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, the Braves ultimately lost the game<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and were eliminated in four games.

On December 2, the Braves re-signed Hinske to a one-year deal with an option for 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was primarily used as a bat off the bench and played the corner outfield positions. On June 3, 2011, Hinske hit a go-ahead solo homer off Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez to help the Braves win 6–3<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He hit .233 with 10 home runs and 28 RBI that year, hitting .310 with runners in scoring position and two outs.<ref name=":2" />

The Braves picked up their option on Hinske for the 2012 season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 5, he went 4–4 against the Colorado Rockies, including a tie-breaking two-run homer in the 11th inning.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 11, Hinske was ejected by umpire Mike Muchlinski after Muchlinski ruled that Hinske had not checked his swing and was out on strikes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made just two starts after the All-Star break and hit .197 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 132 at-bats for the Braves that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Arizona Diamondbacks

On December 4, 2012, Hinske signed a one-year deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After passing a physical, the contract became official on December 6, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Hinske was suspended for five games for his actions during a brawl between the Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 11, 2013.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The suspension was later reduced to only one game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After hitting .173 with one home run and six RBI in 52 games, he was designated for assignment on June 28.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Scouting and coaching

Following the 2013 season, Hinske was hired as a scout by the Yankees. He helped convince Brian McCann to sign with the team. After a month with the organization, he was hired by the Chicago Cubs to be their first base coach on December 3, 2013.<ref name="nydailynews">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the 2014 season, the Yankees considered naming Hinske the team's next hitting coach. However, he ultimately stayed with Chicago and was named assistant hitting coach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Hinske won his third World Series ring when the Cubs defeated the Indians in the 2016 World Series.

He was hired by the Los Angeles Angels on October 23, 2017, to be their hitting coach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After one season, he was replaced by Jeremy Reed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was hired as the assistant hitting coach by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2019.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On June 10, 2021, Hinske and hitting coach Darnell Coles were relieved of their positions with the club.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 3, 2023, the New York Mets announced that Hinske was hired to be the team's assistant hitting coach for the 2023 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was not retained for the 2024 season following the hiring of Carlos Mendoza as Mets manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Hinske and wife Kathryn have three children, Ava, Dylan, and A.J.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2016, Hinske's hometown Menasha honored his professional achievements by dedicating a street in his name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hinske enjoys listening to metal music, and his walk-up song was "Walk" by Pantera. Hinske has a large set of tattoos incorporating Japanese iconography that completely cover his back.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>