Why A.J. Hinch's redemption with Detroit Tigers is feel-good story in MLB playoffs

These 2024 Major League Baseball playoffs are filled with Oklahoma-related storylines, none more unlikely than the villain-to-hero arc of Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch .

As a senior at Midwest City High School, Hinch was the 1992 National Gatorade Player of the Year. The White Sox selected him in the second round of the MLB draft, but he passed up the big leagues to attend Stanford, where he was a two-time Pac-10 Player of the Year.

Hinch, a catcher, had a seven-year major league career, playing for the Athletics, Royals, Tigers and Phillies from 1998-2004.

His first stint as a big-league manager, with the Diamondbacks, didn’t go well. But in 2015, the Astros gave Hinch another chance.

And in 2017, Hinch guided the Astros to a World Series win against the Dodgers. Hinch led Houston to the American League Championship Series in 2018 and back to the World Series in 2019, where Washington beat Houston.

The Astros entered 2020 as the back-to-back-to-back American League West champions and had a three-year streak of winning at least 100 games.

Then scandal struck.

MLB found that the Astros had cheated in 2017 and 2018, using a video system to steal signs — and banging on a trash can to relay those signs — to let hitters know what type of pitch was coming.

Hinch failed by allowing the cheating to persist. Major League Baseball suspended him for a year.

In 2021, the Tigers hired Hinch as manager.

While the Astros continued to win big even post-scandal, the Tigers trudged along without a postseason appearance in each of Hinch’s first three seasons.

Then came this season.

On August 11, the Tigers were eight games below .500. From that point on, they were the best team in baseball — even after trading Jack Flaherty, their No. 2 starter, to the Dodgers.

Hinch, a pariah after leaving Houston, is now the author of a feel-good story in Detroit.

“I’m not proud of the story to get here,” Hinch told reporters . “I’ve owned up to that, and I will continue to do that. I’m very sorry for how it all went down, but all I had was the next opportunity to try to make it better and do my part to make this happen as fast as possible for the Detroit Tigers .”

Hinch and the Tigers will open their three-game wildcard series at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday against … Houston.

Who else?

Jackson Jobe makes Tigers’ postseason roster

Hey now!

The right-handed flamethrower out of Heritage Hall High School made Detroit’s postseason roster after logging all of four innings.

Jobe, the No. 3 pick in the 2021 MLB draft, was called up by the Tigers in late September to make his major league debut. He pitched four scoreless innings, allowing one hit and one walk.

Ranked as the No. 6 prospect in all of baseball by MLB Pipeline, Jobe, a long-term starter, is expected to pitch out of the bullpen for Detroit.

Jobe is the son of former PGA golfer Brandt Jobe.

The Detroit-Houston winner will face No. 2 seed Cleveland in the American League Divisional Series.

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J.T. Realmuto back in postseason with Phillies

The three-time All-Star catcher from Carl Albert High School is making his third-straight trip to the postseason with the Phillies.

Age and injuries might finally be affecting the 33-year-old.

Realmuto played in 99 games. Not counting the shortened 2020 season, it’s the first time Realmuto has played in fewer than 100 games since his 2014 rookie season.

Realmuto, while playing the most grueling position, still had a solid slash line: .266/.322/.429. His .751 OPS (on-base plus slugging percentage) was his lowest since 2015.

Realmuto, in 30 career playoff games, has a slash line of .237/.293/.439.

Among all active players, Realmuto ranks 29th in career WAR (wins above replacement). That’s best among all catchers.

The Phillies earned a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed in the National League. They’ll face the winner of the Brewers-Mets wild card series.

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Bobby Witt Jr. vs. Jackson Holliday

A former OU commit vs. a former OSU commit — neither of which had any intention of playing college ball.

Both sons of former big leaguers. Bobby Witt Sr. a 16-year journeyman pitcher, Matt Holliday a seven-time All-Star outfielder.

Bobby Witt Sr. played at OU. Jackson Holliday’s uncle, Josh, is the coach at OSU.

Bobby Witt Jr. was the No. 1 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, in 2022. Holliday was the No. 1 prospect entering this season.

Witt’s Royals will play Holliday’s Orioles at 4 p.m. Tuesday in the wild card round.

Witt is the face of the franchise in Kansas City. The third-year shortstop was named to his first All-Star team this season. Witt hit .332, winning the American League batting title, with 32 home runs and 109 RBI. He stole 31 bases.

Holliday scuffled as a rookie, sent down to the minors before being called up again.

The 20-year-old from Stillwater High School appeared in 60 games for the Orioles. He hit .189 while striking out in 33% of his at-bats.

Whether Holliday makes an impact this postseason or not, his long-term outlook hasn’t dimmed. He was the second-youngest rookie in the American League this season and still has star upside.

The upside of Witt? Probably not. But few do. Witt has the makings of a perennial MVP candidate.

Joe Mussatto is a sports columnist for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Joe? Email him at jmussatto@oklahoman.com . Support Joe's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com .

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Why A.J. Hinch's redemption with Detroit Tigers is feel-good story in MLB playoffs