Sunday marked a meaningful milestone for the Detroit Tigers: the first official full-squad workout of spring training. While many position players had already been in camp for several days, this was the moment when the entire roster finally came together – pitchers, catchers, and hitters united on the same fields with Opening Day now firmly in sight.
For manager A.J. Hinch, it also meant one of his favorite responsibilities of the year: standing in front of his clubhouse and addressing the team as a whole.
Hinch didn’t waste the opportunity.
“The joy as a manager is when you stand up in front of your team with everybody just raring to go and ready to get on the field,” Hinch said. He thanked the players for the chance to lead them and made sure they understood how much the group meant to him.
“I love this team – the personality of this team, the makeup of this team, the competitiveness of this team. I want to tell them.”
Those words weren’t just sentiment. Hinch views these early meetings as foundational moments; chances to align players and staff, establish expectations, and reinforce the culture that’s been slowly taking shape in Detroit.
Building Connection Before Building Wins
Hinch acknowledged that these full-squad gatherings carry real weight.
“Those types of meetings can set the tone for spring and can connect me closer with players and staff and get everybody’s mind in the right direction of what we’re trying to do,” he said.
It’s a balance he’s refined over years in the dugout. He wants to communicate purpose without dragging things out. His preference is to keep speeches short, meaningful, and action-oriented.
“I’ll never take that day for granted,” Hinch added. “I try to keep it as short as possible so they can get on the field and get to the baseball, but I love this team.”
That approach reflects how Hinch operates daily. There’s an emphasis on relationships, yes, but also on getting to work. Spring training isn’t about grand declarations. It’s about habits, repetitions, and gradually building momentum.
The Tigers, still a young team in many respects, have embraced that structure. Hinch has cultivated an environment where accountability meets optimism, and where players understand that every rep matters long before standings ever do.
Back at the Bottom of the Mountain
If Hinch’s first message centered on appreciation, his second focused on perspective.
“We’ve done the work in the offseason to come out and now have a productive spring,” he said. “The analogy that I’ll use is that we’re back at the bottom of the mountain again, with clear goals.”
It’s a powerful visual. It’s a reminder that no matter how much progress was made last season, nothing carries over automatically. Every year begins from scratch.
“This team is a good team,” Hinch continued. “We’ve got to go stack a ton of days and a ton of games. Everybody wants to know what’s going to happen tomorrow. We try not to draw too many conclusions.”
That philosophy has become central to Hinch’s leadership style. He consistently preaches patience and process over predictions. Success isn’t built through forecasts or hype, but through daily commitment – stacking quality practices, productive at-bats, and competitive innings until something meaningful forms.
Expectations Are Rising – and Hinch Feels It
Perhaps the most telling part of Hinch’s comments was his acknowledgment that the atmosphere around the Tigers has changed.
“For these guys to forecast that the expectations have risen over the last few years, and the people that have been in this room for five or six years with me and some of my staff feel it – that’s a great thing,” he said. “It’s great to have an opportunity to be good.”
That sentiment carries weight.
Veterans like Justin Verlander and emerging stars such as Riley Greene are part of a roster that finally feels positioned to compete. Players who’ve endured rebuilding seasons are now seeing tangible progress, and Hinch knows that belief is starting to take hold inside the clubhouse.
But he’s careful not to let confidence drift into complacency. Opportunity alone doesn’t win games. The Tigers still have to earn everything.
A Spring About Process, Not Promises
The Tigers’ first full-squad day wasn’t flashy. There were no bold proclamations or postseason guarantees. Instead, Hinch delivered a grounded message rooted in gratitude, realism, and steady ambition.
He loves his team. He believes in its competitiveness. And he understands exactly how fragile momentum can be in baseball.
Detroit begins 2026 where every club does – at the bottom of the mountain. But under Hinch’s guidance, the Tigers are climbing with purpose, one day at a time.
‘I Love This Team’: Hinch Delivers Message on Detroit’s Full-Squad Day