DETROIT — A.J. Hinch and Charlie Morton have been through a lot together.
The pair first connected in 2017 when Hinch was managing the Houston Astros and Morton signed with the team as a free agent coming off a lost season due to a torn hamstring.
Two years together in Houston that included a World Series victory and Morton’s first All-Star selection created an everlasting bond that finally reunited in Detroit at this year’s trade deadline.
“We’re both relationship-based people and so we hit it off quickly. And, you know, I will always tell the player what I think, how I think we’re going to go about it and what the expectations are. He really took that to heart,” Hinch said.
“I think what makes Charlie tick is a personal connection with what he’s doing, whether it’s family based or friend based or clubhouse based. That foundation was built really early.”
The personal connections continue for Morton and Hinch as the Tigers play their final matchup of a three-game series with the Astros on Wednesday, marking the first time Morton, 41, has pitched against his former team since 2022.
The Astros have a very different roster now than when Hinch helmed the organization. But there are still a handful of players Morton competed alongside like veteran infielders Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and lefty Framber Valdez, who will start for Houston on Wednesday.
Morton had some of his best years with the Astros, owning a 3.36 ERA and striking out 364 batters in 55 total starts.
His biggest moment — and Hinch’s favorite memory of Morton — came in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series when he pitched the final four innings of the deciding matchup and lifted his arms in the air in celebration after clinching the title.
“The other thing that impacts relationships is our experiences. We’ve had a lot together and this will be a brand new one watching him pitch against a couple of old teammates, certainly an older uniform that he’s worn, but also trying to do his best,” Hinch said. “He’s a special person to me, obviously will always be no matter whether he had come to pitch on my team again. It does bring back a lot of special thoughts.”
Morton’s first three starts since being acquired by the Tigers have been a mixed bag, but he’s coming off arguably his best start of the season against the Minnesota Twins, where he pitched six shutout innings with five strikeouts.
While the focus remains on the opponents ahead in the regular season, Hinch and Morton are surely hoping to make more memories together. Morton was brought in as an arm that could help the Tigers make a run in the postseason.
Good things have happened when Hinch and Morton get to fall baseball together.
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