Hinske joins Cubs' staff as first-base coach
MLB veteran signs on for first coaching stint following 12-year playing career
CHICAGO -- Eric Hinske was the Cubs' 17th-round pick in the 1998 First-Year Player Draft but never got to play for the team. In March 2001, he was dealt to the Athletics for Miguel Cairo.
On Tuesday, Cubs manager Rick Renteria completed his coaching staff by naming Hinske as the first-base coach.
This will be Hinske's first coaching stint. He wrapped up a 12-year Major League career last season that included 2002 American League Rookie of the Year honors with the Blue Jays and three straight World Series appearances, bookended by championships with the Red Sox in 2007 and the Yankees in '09.
Hinske, 36, played 1,387 Major League games with the Blue Jays (2002-06), Red Sox (2006-07), Rays (2008), Pirates (2009), Yankees ('09), Braves (2010-12) and D-backs (2013). He finished his career with a .249 batting average.
He'll need some time to get to know Wrigley Field. Hinske has played in just 12 games at the Cubs' home park, and started two.
Hinske joins pitching Chris Bosio, bench coach Brandon Hyde, third-base coach Gary Jones, hitting coach Bill Mueller, bullpen coach Lester Strode, catching coach Mike Borzello, assistant hitting coach Mike Brumley and staff assistant Franklin Font on Renteria's staff.