Tigers hire former Astros leader with AJ Hinch ties to fill long-vacant coaching position

On October 7, Tigers insider Cody Stavenhagen hinted that Detroit had been interviewing former big leaguers to fill their role as quality control coach, a position that's been vacant since Billy Boyer moved over to third base duties following Joey Cora's mid-season dismissal.

On Friday, Stavenhagen and Chandler Rome of The Athletic reported that the job will be going to former major league catcher Martín Maldonado, who spent parts of 2018 and 2019 with AJ Hinch's Astros.

Maldonado was widely known as a clubhouse leader in Houston, which almost certainly contributes to the fact that they kept him on the roster full-time from 2020 through 2023, even with well below-average production at the plate and, by the end of his time there, awful defensive numbers.

There's the age-old question: what exactly is a quality control coach? A 2025 article from The Athletic described it as a flexible role that varies from organization to organization. Guardians manager and former Mariners QC coach Steven Vogt said it turned into more of a bullpen coach role; Cubs bench coach and former Padres QC coach Ryan Flaherty helped with infield instruction.

Given Maldonado's history, a Vogt-esque role may be most realistic.

Tigers hire former Astros catcher Martín Maldonado as quality control coach

Maldonado hung in there and kept playing until the end of 2025, when he announced his retirement after a year spent going back and forth between the minors and majors with the Padres. He was 38, and had spent 15 years with seven clubs, but mostly the Astros and Brewers.

He makes sense as a potential mentor for Dillon Dingler, but especially Eduardo Valencia, who the Tigers are sticking with as their backup catcher for now. Valencia's bat might be the real deal, but he needs some work behind the plate if he wants to earn more reps in 2027 (though the Tigers should also be considering a move to first base).

He also has a nice history with Framber Valdez, catching a franchise-high 20 strikeouts in one game with Valdez as the starter in 2022, and then Valdez's only career no-hitter in 2023. Although both came after Hinch's time, it feels like a true Astros reunion in Detroit.

Stavenhagen also pointed out on October 7 that the Tigers have some issues keeping coaches, and that's become something of a talking point or a yellow flag for industry insiders. Hopefully, Maldonado will stick.

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