An Astros insiders bold choice for the franchises top manager is sparking debate-but the numbers might just back him up.

IMAGE: San Francisco Giants special advisor to baseball operations Dusty Baker chats with a Washington Nationals staff member as San Francisco Giants hitting coach Pat Burrell (95) looks on during batting practice before the game at Oracle Park. / Robert Edwards / Imagn Images
When you talk about the Houston Astros’ managerial history, it’s easy to overlook just how deep the bench really is. This is a franchise that’s only been around since 1962-back when they were still the Colt .45s-but even in that relatively short window, the Astros have seen some serious names in the skipper’s seat. From Hall of Famer Leo Durocher to the ever-steady Larry Dierker, and from the underrated Phil Garner to the well-respected Dusty Baker, Houston hasn’t lacked for leadership.

But when the conversation turns to the greatest manager in franchise history, one name rises above the rest-and it’s not without controversy: AJ Hinch.

For Astros fans, Hinch represents both triumph and turmoil. He was at the helm when the team finally broke through and won its first World Series title.

He led some of the most dominant Astros teams we’ve ever seen. But he was also front and center during the sign-stealing scandal that rocked the franchise and the league.

That stain on his résumé is hard to ignore. Still, when you zoom out and look at the full picture, Hinch’s impact on the Astros is undeniable.

Astros insider Brian McTaggart recently ranked the top managers in club history, and despite the baggage, he put Hinch at No. 1. And honestly, it’s a call that’s hard to argue with.

Let’s start with the numbers. Hinch owns the highest winning percentage of any full-time manager in Astros history at .594.

That’s not just good-it’s elite. He racked up 481 wins over five seasons, second only to Bill Virdon in total victories.

And while Dusty Baker managed more postseason games, Hinch brought home the hardware in 2017, took the team back to the World Series in 2019, and made it to the ALCS in 2018. That’s a three-year stretch of sustained excellence that few managers in any era can match.

And here’s the thing: the Astros have a long history of short managerial tenures. Very few skippers have stuck around for more than a handful of seasons.

So when you compare Hinch’s run to others in similar timeframes, his results stand out even more. He didn’t just win-he built a culture of winning that helped launch the Astros into a new era of dominance.

Yes, the scandal happened. Yes, it’s a permanent part of his legacy.

But Hinch wasn’t the only one involved, and his role-while significant-doesn’t erase the success he helped engineer. You can acknowledge the wrongdoing and still recognize the results.

That’s the balance Astros fans have had to strike, and it’s not always easy.

But if we’re talking strictly baseball-game management, clubhouse leadership, postseason success, and overall impact-AJ Hinch is, at least for now, the best manager the Houston Astros have ever had.

The legacy might be complicated. But the record speaks for itself.