DETROIT -- Longtime catcher Martin Maldonado, who played for a handful of legendary managers during his 14-year Major League career, is following the path into the coaching profession. Maldonado is joining the Tigers as a quality control coach under A. Hinch, for whom he played in Houston, sources told MLB.
DETROIT -- Longtime catcher Martin Maldonado, who played for a handful of legendary managers during his 14-year Major League career, is following the path into the coaching profession. Maldonado is joining the Tigers as a quality control coach under A.J. Hinch, for whom he played in Houston, sources told MLB.com on Friday. The Tigers have not announced any coaching changes since season’s end. The Athletic was the first to report Maldonado’s hiring. Maldonado’s reunion with Hinch revives a working relationship that thrived nearly a decade ago. The Astros acquired Maldonado at the 2018 Trade Deadline from the Angels -- with whom he won a Gold Glove in 2017 -- to provide a defensive-minded, game-calling backstop for a star-studded pitching staff led by Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole. Maldonado made a big impression in his first stint with a postseason team, enough that the Astros traded for him again the following Trade Deadline after he’d left as a free agent. Maldonado remained with the Astros through the 2023 season, winning a World Series under Dusty Baker in 2022. He retired in 2025 after 1,230 career games between the Astros, Angels, Brewers, Cubs, Padres, Royals and White Sox. His last game action was in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico, which lost in the quarterfinals to Italy. Maldonado said upon retirement that he was looking forward to spending time with family, but made it clear he was interested in coaching. The 40-year-old spent this past season with the Braves as a special assistant. ”My goal is to manage in the future,” Maldonado told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. “You’ve got to take it step by step.” Coaching under Hinch is the next step, following a path taken by current Pirates manager Don Kelly, former Astros manager Joe Espada and former Red Sox manager Alex Cora. As quality control coach, Maldonado fills a position that had been vacant on the Tigers staff since Billy Boyer took over as third-base coach for Joey Cora this past summer. The Tigers also have openings at first-base coach and assistant pitching coach after parting ways with Anthony Sanders and Juan Nieves, per sources.
Curated by Taleb Kabbara · Source: www.mlb.com
Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Atlanta Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros (Dusty Baker), Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, Puerto Rico Baseball Team, World Baseball Classic, A.J. Hinch, Brian McTaggart, Billy Boyer, Anthony Sanders, Juan Nieves
Detroit Tigers: The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball franchise that has hired Martín Maldonado as a quality control coach on A.J. Hinch's staff.
Houston Astros: The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball franchise that previously acquired Martín Maldonado at the 2018 Trade Deadline and later reacquired him, with Maldonado spending multiple seasons there and winning a World Series under Dusty Baker in 2022.
Los Angeles Angels: The Los Angeles Angels are a Major League Baseball franchise that employed Martín Maldonado earlier in his career, where he won a Gold Glove in 2017 before being traded at the 2018 Trade Deadline.
Atlanta Braves: The Atlanta Braves are a Major League Baseball franchise that employed Martín Maldonado as a special assistant during the past season before his retirement.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball franchise referenced as the current employer of Don Kelly, illustrating a career path example for Martín Maldonado toward managing.
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