Former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus lands bench coach gig

The Detroit Tigers are relaxing on the beach by the ocean with their current manager situation. A.J. Hinch has been a phenomenal hire for the organization so far and has proven to be exceptional. While some still may refer to him as a cheater and view his image as tarnished…

Hinch has been great. But before Hinch’s time with the Tigers and before the time of Ron Gardenhire, things were bleak. Brad Ausmus had a four-year stint with the Tigers as the manager, and things never really worked out.

He took over right when the team’s winning was coming to an end. It was a great 90-72 first season in 2014, but things never really got back to where they were supposed to be. Ausmus moved on from the organization, spending time with the Los Angeles Angels organization.

He was a manager for one year during the 2019 season, where he posted a 72-90 record before being relieved of his duties once again. However, he found a new home after the Oakland Athletics offered him a bench coach position under new manager, Mark Kotsay, per ESPN.

Former Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus latches on with A’s as bench coach.

Many fans had enough of Ausmus at the end of his Tigers tenure. He finished his four-year stint with the Tigers managing 646 games with a 314-332 record for a .486 winning percentage.

It was a tumultuous time for the Tigers organization during his time. After winning the American League (AL) Central in 2014, he took the Tigers to the postseason, losing three straight and exiting.

He finished fifth in the division the following year. He was runner-up in the Central the year after and then finished last in the Central once again during his final season with the Tigers in 2017.

It’s a different move for Ausmus, who had been interviewing for managerial roles around the league. The rumors initially pointed to Ausmus being considered for a position with the New York Mets after they hired former Angels executive Billy Eppler to be their general manager.

Instead, Ausmus would not be hired with the Mets and continued interviewing and exploring other options. The Athletics are instilling some trust with Kotsay as a first-year manager.

For better or worse, Ausmus’ experience as a manager will allow him to assist Kotsay in his first year holding the reins. Back in the Motor City, the Tigers faithful should be more than content with Hinch and the staff he has assembled to get the job done moving forward.