​Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch announced prior to Tuesday night’s game with the Oakland Athletics that third base coach Joey Cora has left the organization. Hinch said he and Cora met and mutually decided to part ways due to some philosophical differences that had developed, with Billy Boyer stepping into the role of third base coach effective immediately. Hinch described the differences of opinion as solely baseball-related. It’s noteworthy that Cora had served as the Tigers’ third base coach for two and a half seasons after joining the organization in November 2023. The 61-year-old former major leaguer spent 11 seasons in the big leagues, primarily with the Padres, White Sox, and Mariners, before moving into coaching. In addition to third base duties, Cora has been the Tigers’ infield instructor for the past two and a half seasons.
One might wonder whether the disagreement is more about coaching approach than Cora’s performance at third base. As with any third base coach over the years, he has faced criticism for a few aggressive sends that didn’t pan out, but overall the Tigers have shown solid baserunning results under his watch, even if stolen bases haven’t been abundant. This year has brought a slight dip in baserunning metrics, with the Tigers ranking 17th in team baserunning per FanGraphs, after finishing 10th in that category in 2025.
Billy Boyer, 41, came to the Tigers after a long tenure as a college coach and joined the organization as a minor league infield coordinator in 2021. His appointment came amid Ryan Garko’s broader overhaul of the player development system following the reassignment of former director of player development Dave Littlefield. This season, Boyer has served as the Tigers’ quality control coach at the major league level. Given his extensive experience as an infield instructor, it’s reasonable to expect that Boyer will assume Cora’s responsibilities in working with the infielders as well.
Fans and observers will be watching to see what a fresh approach at third base looks like in real time. Beyond the new gestures and cues, the essential elements of the Tigers’ baserunning philosophy are unlikely to change dramatically. The club remains committed to aggressive play on the bases, including sending runners from third to home when the situation warrants. With Boyer at the controls, it will be interesting to assess whether the Tigers become more precise or more opportunistic in their decision-making on the basepaths as they continue to fine-tune their approach. The coming weeks should reveal whether this personnel shift translates into a measurable change in baserunning outcomes and the overall tempo of the Tigers’ aggressive baserunning strategy.