Why AJ Hinch is trusting another rookie to lead Game 2 of ALDS

This gives Hinch the flexibility to use Kerry Carpenter ahead of Vierling later in the game.

Malloy played in both games in Houston and proved he can handle postseason pressure.

In Game 1 of the Wild Card Series, Malloy went 1-for-2 with a walk.

And in Game 2, he had a swing and landed a hit.

“He knows why he’s in this squad,” said Hinch. “He knows his role and is usually one step ahead in preparing for it. That’s why I love getting him to hit and watching him through his development because after the last series he played a crucial role against their left-handed pitchers and I hope that’s the case in this series too.”

Malloy is 24 years old and made his debut on June 3rd.

He actually played more this season than some would have thought in spring training because Kerry Carpenter and Riley Greene were injured and Parker Meadows was sent back to Triple-A Toledo.

That opened the door for Malloy to reach 202 at bats.

And all that experience gave Malloy a chance to grow, and it now gives Hinch flexibility.

“It’s paying off now that he’s playing a special role on a playoff team and trying to win today’s game,” Hinch said. “When he was called up, there was a lot of talk about his zone control and his ability to get on base, and then people came right up to him and thought he was waiting for a walk, and that put him in swing mode . And now he’s adjusted that again so that he’s appropriately aggressive but also appropriately patient. And when you put that combination together, he’s very, very dangerous when he has the right pitch to hit.”