Martín Maldonado is joining the Detroit Tigers as a quality control coach under manager A.J. Hinch, according to MLB.com. The move reunites Maldonado with Hinch, who managed him during his playing days with the Houston Astros.
Maldonado retired in 2025 after 14 seasons and 1,230 games. He spent this past season with the Atlanta Braves as a special assistant.
What It Means For The Tigers And Maldonado
Maldonado fills a quality control coaching vacancy on the Tigers staff. He caught for Hinch in Houston from 2018 to 2023, giving the manager a trusted voice from his playing days.
For Maldonado, the job marks a step in a stated path toward managing. “My goal is to manage in the future. You’ve got to take it step by step,” Maldonado said, according to MLB.com. Don Kelly (now Pirates manager), Joe Espada (formerly Astros manager) and Alex Cora (formerly Red Sox manager) all moved into managing after roles with Hinch, establishing a path Maldonado hopes to follow.
Maldonado’s Playing Background
In 14 seasons with seven teams, Maldonado won a Gold Glove with the Angels in 2017. The Astros acquired him at the 2018 trade deadline to anchor a pitching staff featuring Justin Verlander and Gerrit Cole, and he stayed through 2023.
His last competitive appearance was at the 2026 World Baseball Classic for Puerto Rico, which lost in the quarterfinals to Italy.
What’s Next
The Tigers have not announced the hire. The team also has openings for a first-base coach and assistant pitching coach after parting ways with Anthony Sanders and Juan Nieves.
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