Top Blue Jays Player #38: Eric Hinske
Position: Third
base/First base
Seasons With the
Jays: 5 (2002-2006)
MLB Awards: AL
Rookie of the Year (2002)
Stats: Games Played 655 Batting Average .259
Base Hits 584 Runs
Scored 353
Home Runs 78 RBIs 313
Doubles
146 Triples 12
Stolen Bases 46 Walks 263
Eric Hinske broke into the Major
Leagues with a flourish, but never maintained the excellent level of play of
that first season throughout his career. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in
the 17th round of the Amateur Draft in 1998 and spent several years
in the minor leagues with both the Cubs and Oakland Athletics organizations
before being acquired by Toronto in a trade after the 2001 season.
Hinske started the 2002 season
as the starting third baseman for the Blue Jays and played magnificently. After
winning the American League Rookie of the Month honours for June, he kept up
his stellar play for the remainder of the season and captured the AL Rookie of
the Year Award, the second (and to date, last) Toronto Blue Jays’ player to do
so. In 151 games, he batted .279 (it would be the highest average of his
career), slugged 24 home runs and added 84 RBIs (totals he would never again
match). He also stole 13 bases and was solid defensively at third base, posting
a .946 fielding percentage.
In 2003, Hinske struggled badly
at the plate at the beginning of the season, before he was diagnosed with a
broken bone in his right hand. His numbers dropped considerably (.246 average,
12 home runs and 63 RBI.) In 2004, the offensive numbers didn’t improve, but he
did lead all third baseman with a .978 fielding percentage, committing only
seven errors in 153 games.
A shift to first base occurred
in 2005, but his offensive numbers were still below expectations. He finished
with a .262 average, 15 homers and 68 RBIs. The acquisitions of first baseman,
Lyle Overbay, and third baseman, Troy Glaus, meant there was no room for Hinske
in the infield as 2006 started, so he was pencilled in to platoon with Alex
Rios in right field. But strong play from Rios won him the full time job by the
end of April and Hinske was relegated to the role of a back-up. His time with
Toronto came to an end in the middle of August when he was acquired by the
Boston Red Sox.
After leaving Toronto, Hinske
got the opportunity to play in three consecutive World Series with three
different teams. He helped the Red Sox win the Series in 2007, lost with the
Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and won with the Yankees in 2009. His final big league
season was in 2013 when he played with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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