2020 Free Agent Dustin Hinken

Dustin Hinken

USSSA Playing History

Interview conducted on 10/14/2019

Who are you playing with in 2020, and who have you played with in the past?
Free Agent for 2020 – dustinhinken@yahoo.com

2019-2018 T&W 2017-2016 Premier

What positions do you play and what is your best position?
I am a utility player, can play IF or OF

Who is the best softball player you have ever seen play?
Steven Lloyd or Luis Reyna, two of the best gloves in the country

Why do you like the game of softball?
I enjoy the competitive nature of the game and I can further my baseball career in something a little different.

What is your nickname in softball and how did you get it?
Hink – Its just short for my last name Hinken

What is your height and weight?
5'10" 175

Where do you call home?
Cincinnati, Ohio

What's your favorite way to spend an off weekend?
Spending time with my future wife and our 2yr old daughter

What do you do for a living?
I am a Jet/Plane Mechanic for Delta Private Jets

Did you play sports in High School / College / Pro?
High School – Soccer, Basketball, Baseball College – Soccer, Baseball

How did you get your start in softball and how did you get to the upper level?
Playing in a league night and high school basketball coach saw me playing, asked if I ever thought about playing tournament ball, picked me up to play with his team. Then about 4 years later got an opportunity to play with Premier and got to upper ball.

What was the most surprising difference between Conference play and non-Conference play when you made the jump?
The consistency of players, making the routine plays and hitting for average

What would you say is your career highlight to this point? Maybe one play or game that sticks out to you in particular?
Friday Night in the Cincy Major playing Resmondo, hit 3-4 with an in the park Homerun against Purcell and took them 7 innings after being flip flopped to only lose by 3

What advice can you give a young player trying to break into the upper level?
What you do off the field is just as important off, BP and working out

What type of batting grip do you use and what ounce bat?
Normal Grip with Pinky on knob of bat, 26oz

What do you do in the offseason to prepare for the next softball season?
BP and working on fielding (footwork and hand speed)

What is your favorite sports team and your favorite sport other than softball?
Cincinnati Reds and I say my favorite sport is Baseball

Do you have any superstitions and if so, what are they?
The same routine on how I start my day

What would be your "at bat" music selection?
"This Plane" by Wiz Khalifa just because it was my walk up song in college

What is your favorite non-World tournament and why?
Cincy Major or Smokys because of the atmosphere during the night games

What is the best softball field/complex you have played at and why?
Wide World of Sports, just old school with playing on dirt and they are always well kept

What is the funniest thing you have ever seen on a softball field?
LF dove for a ball and when he came up to through the ball in his pants were around his ankles