There is precedent for career change in the Hinske family.
When Eric Hinske was growing up in Wisconsin, his father became a high school teacher after 20 years as an accountant and stock broker.
Hinke’s major league career has not undergone such dramatic transformation, but it has continued to evolve. He is no longer an everyday third baseman, the one who oncewon the American League rookie of the year award. Today, you can find him playing any of four positions in Atlanta, often as a reserve, and pinch-hitting. Atlanta is his sixth team in five years.
That hasn’t been a bad thing.
“If I knew then what I know now, it would have worked out a little better for me as far as staying an everyday player,” Hinske said. “I don’t regret anything. I’ve had a great career and I will keep playing as long as they let me.”
Right now, the Braves will keep playing him as long as he is upright. As the club opened its series with New York Monday night, Hinske has been a catalyst to the Braves' current surge, hitting .529 (9-for-17) in five consecutive starts in left field, his most concentrated service since the season began.
Relaxed with a quick-wit demeanor that has been an important clubhouse addition, he entered the week leading the team in hitting (.360) with 17 RBIs in just 50 at-bats. With Matt Diaz (thumb) on the DL perhaps well into June, Hinske has nominated himself for everyday service in the spot the Braves need the most help. The left field platoon of Diaz and Melky Cabrera had generated 11 RBIs in 126 at-bats. Hinske had eight RBIs in his previous five games.
Versatility has made Hinske a valuable supplement to several teams, including not just the Braves but with Boston, Tampa Bay and the New York Yankees. He appeared in the World Series for all three.. He remembers when his career took a new direction.
As a rookie in Toronto, Hinske batted second in a lineup with Raul Mondesi and Carlos Delgado hitting behind him. He was honored as the 2002 rookie of the year after hitting .279 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs. The following season he missed 38 games with a broken hand and never again came close to his rookie numbers as a Blue Jay.
“I never really lived up to my first year in Toronto,” Hinske said. “ ... My third year is the year I always look at and say I didn’t do what I should have. I played every game and I hit [.246] and hit 15 homers. I look back now. I see some guys in the league doing that, but back then it wasn’t good enough.”
The next season the Blue Jays acquired Cory Koskie, lost Delgado and Hinske moved to first base. It added another position to his resume, which would also soon include both corner outfield spots.
His everyday role changed in 2006, when Hinske was traded to Boston. The Blue Jays’ infield had become overcrowded with the additions of Troy Glaus and Shea Hillenbrand.
“The first year, the league is just testing you, I feel like,” Hinske said. “They don’t know how to get you out yet. They are seeing what you can and can’t hit. You are putting up numbers. I wasn’t making adjustments to they way they were trying to pitch me. I’m so much smarter now.”
Five years into his career, the changes were just beginning. Boston picked up the final year of his contract and Hinske helped the Red Sox to the World Series title in 2007. After signing as a free agent with Tampa Bay the following year, Hinske again found himself in the world championship, this time losing to Philadelphia. Last season began in Pittsburgh, his first tour of the National League but a mid-season trade to the Yankees had Hinske in the World Series again, earning his second ring.
“He’s been to three World Series,” Braves catcher David Ross said. “He’s got a good resume. He’s started. He’s platooned. He’s been a bench player. He’s done just about every role for a position player. He works hard. He has a lot of positions to keep track of.”
Last winter, Hinske's decision to sign with Atlanta was easy, he said, because the Braves wanted the type of player he had become. He also jumped at the chance to play for Bobby Cox in his final year as manager.
“I had a lot of teams call,” Hinske said. “[The Braves] were one of the first teams that called and said, ‘You are the guy we want.’ They weren’t beating around the bush, saying they had a couple different options. They said, ‘We want you, we want you to come here, we want you to do this role.' They didn’t lie or anything. They were straight forward. I liked that.”
The Braves have liked what they’ve seen, on and off the field.
“He’s a guy that can hit for power, hit for average,” Braves hitting coach Terry Pendleton said. “But the other stuff he brings to the table is relaxing the guys and just having fun in the clubhouse. He’s a great person to have on your ball club. Plus, he can play left field, first and third base, right field. He’s just a big plus to our ball club."
These are the lessons learned in an evolving career. Hinske, a career .255 hitter, admits it hasn’t been easy. Everyone wants to play every day.
“Then you realize, do you want to keep playing or not?” Hinske said. “You don’t want to be a bad clubhouse guy and cause problems. If you complain about playing time, then no one wants you around. The bottom line is, it’s not about you, it’s about winning games. That’s it up here. You either want to be part of it or you don’t. I think I grew up a lot. It made me realize to check your ego at the door, come in and do it the right way, do what you are supposed to do and good things will happen.
"It’s supposed to be fun. It’s baseball. ... I serve a purpose. I understand that I’m good at other things. I give a manager a lot of flexibility playing four different positions and coming off the bench and getting hits. I try to have as much fun with it as I can.”
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