Hulett patterned big-league journey as Spokane manager

By Craig Howard Current Contributing Editor

When he arrived in the Inland Northwest to become manager of the Spokane Indians in 2007, Tim Hulett brought luggage filled with baseball experience.

The Illinois native was a threesport star at Lamphier High School in Springfield and was good enough as an infielder to be drafted in the 39th round by the Texas Rangers in 1978. He initially passed on the professional route, opting to enroll at the University of South Florida in Tampa and later playing at Miami Dade Community College, a school that produced notable pros like Bucky Dent, Steve Carlton and Mickey Rivers.

Hulett was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1980 and made his big-league debut in 1983. It was the beginning of a 12-year career in the majors that included stops in Baltimore and St. Louis and saw the utility player hit .249 and post a .962 fielding percentage.

Hulett’s pro journey also included less-glamorous stints with minor-league teams like the Iowa Oaks, Denver Bears and Rochester Red Wings. Between 1980 and his retirement in 1995, Hulett was part of eight minor league rosters in leagues ranging from short-season single-A to triple-A.

“The minor leagues are so tough,” Hulett said. “But I never once thought I wasn’t going to make it to the big leagues. It helped me survive the tough times.”

Hulett was the baseball equivalent of the gym rat, showing up before his teammates for games and taking extra batting practice.

“It wasn’t a job for me,” he said.

Hulett played five years in Baltimore as a teammate of Cal Ripken Jr., baseball’s modern-day Iron Man who would eventually break Lou Gehrig’s record of consecutive games played. Ripken Jr., who suited up for 2,632 games in a row, was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007.

“Cal showed up every day and took infield every day,” Hulett said. “Every guy on the team looked at that and knew they had to work that hard.”

Hulett said the decision to play college baseball for several years before starting his professional journey paid dividends.

“You develop more responsibility,” he said. “I didn’t have all that free time and developed more maturity. I learned from my older teammates at South Florida.”

As manager of the Indians, Hulett saw a variety of players populate the roster, from recent high school graduates who signed high-dollar bonuses, to more seasoned players from Division 1 colleges to skilled arrivals from countries like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

“I would tell the guys, ‘Some of you have money and some of you don’t, but out on the field we’re a team,” Hulett said.

The money side of baseball shifted dramatically during the course of Hulett’s career. In 1980, the year he signed with the White Sox, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Darryl Strawberry, received a $152,500 signing bonus from the New York Mets. By Hulett’s retirement year of 1995, the top pick, Darin Erstad, collected nearly $1.6 million from the California Angels.

The No. 1 pick of this year’s baseball draft, Paul Skenes, a righthanded pitcher from Louisiana State University, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates for a record $9.2 million.

Hulett’s most lucrative annual salary came in 1994 with the Orioles when he earned $550,000.

While the short-season A level was recognized as a stepping stone to the majors, Hulett said he developed expectations for winning as a manager.

“Yes, you’re there to develop players but you want to develop players who are focused on winning,” he said.

Spokane Indians Senior Vice President Otto Klein recalls Hulett as “wise and practical” in his decade with the club.

“I think Tim always had the players’ respect,” Klein said. “He was personable and approachable but he would also send messages. One time, a player didn’t hustle down the firstbase line and Tim benched him for three days. I remember Tim saying, ‘He’ll learn by not playing.’ He created accountability with his team.”

When it came to the ingredients necessary to make it to “The Show,” Hulett let his team know that he had traveled that road. Only around 10 percent of minor league players will ever be part of a major league roster.

“Most of the time, we addressed it as a team,” he said. “I would ask them, ‘What are you going to do that’s going to separate you from all those other players?’ I told them I’d been where they want to get. I know how much work it’s going to take.”

Hulett led the Indians to their last Northwest League championship in 2008. He was named NWL Manager of the Year that season as well as in 2010. He currently resides in Louisiana with his wife Linda and coaches at Evangel Christian Academy in Shreveport, a program he has led to five state titles.

Two of Hulett’s sons – Tug and Jeff – played at Evangel and were drafted into pro baseball. Tug logged 67 career at-bats in the majors with the Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals after excelling at Auburn University. Jeff played at Texas A & M before spending several years in the Houston Astros minor league system.

Hulett produced a fair share of major leaguers during his tenure in Spokane. The list includes Kyle Hendricks (Cubs), Mitch Moreland (Rangers), Isiah Kiner-Falefa (Yankees), Joey Gallo (Twins), Dylan Moore (Mariners), Derek Holland (Rangers) and Rougned Odor (Padres) among others. There are currently 19 former Spokane Indians on MLB rosters.

“I always felt accomplished when a player got called up,” Hulett said.

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