Thanks to his glamorous lifestyle and impeccable golfing, Tiger Woods has managed to make several friends outside the 18-hole sport. However, even with the arrival of new friends Woods has not forgotten about his college buddies. On the eve of the commencement of the 2023 MLB season, a former catcher and current manager of a franchise has revealed himself to be friends with Woods since their college days and even claimed to have defeated the golfer in several sports.

Tiger Woods already earned the attention of the world when he was stacking records at the US Junior Amateur Championship. With many colleges trying to recruit him, Woods enrolled at Stanford University in the fall of 1994. It was in the Californian-based college where the golfer would meet the future World Series winner.

Who was Tiger Woods’ baseball college buddy?

The new MLB season is currently only a night away from our TV screens. As the excitement grows further, the players and coaches didn’t shy away from giving candid interviews. One such was AJ Hinch, the manager of the Detroit Tigers. Instead of talking about his team’s first game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Hinch was asked about his friendship with Tiger Woods by WXYZ Detroit. 

The former catcher described how he spent quality time with the 15-time Major winner while both men were injured at the same duration at Stanford University. “Spent a lot of time together”, said Hinch. He added, applauding Woods’ competitive mindset by saying, “The competitor that you see on the on the golf course, pales to comparison just as a human”. 

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Woods, who once revealed baseball to be his favorite sport to play apart from the one he has dominated for the past two decades, also spent time with AJ Hinch around the pitch at Stanford. After reminiscing about their college days, the 2017 World Series winner, who was suspended for cheating during his win with Houston Astros, then spoke about how far Woods has come.

Hinch applauds Woods

After graduating from Stanford University, Woods embarked on one of the best golf journeys one could ever imagine. With 82 professional wins which also include his 15 Major titles, Tiger’s influence helped the sport reach a wider audience. Hinch acknowledged his former college mate’s hard work by saying, “His career is obviously… one of the best golfers of all time”.

Deeming to his love for baseball, Woods is a frequent visitor to the matches, supporting Los Angeles Dodgers. Though Hinch may not be very happy about his friend’s choice, the Stanford University alumnus manage to meet each other during such games. When asked if he ever defeated Woods, the coach replied, “I’m sure I beat him in something…. just not golf”.

Many legendary athletes over the years have graduated from the historical Californian college. The bond the players share despite being from different domains is truly heartwarming. With such robust admiration, players will remember each other even 30 years after graduating, similar to Tiger Woods and AJ Hinch.

What do you think of Woods and Hinch’s friendship? Let us know in the comment section below.

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