A quarter century after Gary Jones managed a young catching prospect named A.J. Hinch on his final step to the Major Leagues, Jones will be sending another generation of prospects to Hinch in Detroit. Jones has been hired as manager of the Toledo Mud Hens, the Tigers’ Triple-A affiliate.
Jones — a veteran of eight Triple-A seasons over three organizations as a manager and 32 years coaching or managing in the Minor Leagues — replaces Tom Prince, who was let go in October after leading the Mud Hens to a division title. It’s the first Minor League managerial hire under new vice president of player development Ryan Garko.
While Garko has talked about developing young coaches and instructors in the system, the Tigers wanted a veteran managing in Triple-A given the crucial, direct relationship between Toledo and Detroit. The 61-year-old Jones provides that. He managed a Mud Hens rival, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in the Phillies’ farm system, from 2018-21, and won International League Manager of the Year honors in 2018.
Jones also managed at Triple-A Pawtucket in the Red Sox’s system from 1999-2001, and led Triple-A Edmonton in the A’s system to back-to-back Pacific Coast League titles in 1996 and ’97. At the latter stop, he managed Hinch, who batted .376 with a 1.001 OPS over 39 games in ’97.
Add in lower-level assignments, and Jones has four league titles and five Manager of the Year Awards in 18 seasons as a Minor League manager, during which he owns a 1,243-1,177 record. Jones also had a Major League stint as the Cubs’ third-base coach from 2014-17, including the 2016 World Series championship team.
“I’m very excited to join the Tigers organization and to be coming to Toledo,” Jones said in a press release. “The Mud Hens have a beautiful stadium and great fans that I have always enjoyed when I have come in with visiting ball clubs. I am looking forward to getting there and working with a great staff.”