AJ Hinch among former Phillies players turned MLB managers

Several former Phillies players have managed following their playing careers

Former Philadelphia Phillies infielders Ryne Sandberg and Pete Mackanin have had a chance to be a major-league skipper following their playing careers.

While they are the only two managers in Phillies history who both played on and managed the team, several others notably began their playing career with the Phillies and went on to become a well-recognized manager. Former catcher AJ Hinch is one of them.

AJ Hinch

Played with PHI in 2004 | Managed Astros from 2015-2019

Before launching his managerial career, AJ Hinch played with the Phillies for one year in 2004. In just four games and 11 at-bats in red pinstripes, Hinch posted a .182 batting average.

The year 2004 would be the last of Hinch’s playing career  — thus, he ended his seven-year career with the Phillies.

Just five years into retirement, in 2009, the Arizona Diamondbacks announced that they hired Hinch to be the fifth manager in franchise history. However, he only lasted just two seasons in the role after being fired by the team, along with then-general manager Josh Byrnes. Hinch was unable to complete a season with the Diamondbacks with a winning percentage at or above the .500 mark.

In two seasons managing the D-backs, Hinch’s overall managerial record was 89-123.

After his quick stint in Arizona, the Houston Astros hired Hinch in 2015, where he lasted as manager for five years before being fired in January after the Astros cheating scandal that rocked the baseball and sports world.

Throughout five seasons managing the Astros, he racked up a winning 481-329 managerial record. He took Houston to the World Series and won amid the infamous 2017 run against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hinch is currently suspended by Major League Baseball for one year for his role in the cheating scandal.