PHOENIX, Arizona (Reuters) - Arizona Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin paid the price for a poor start to the season when he was fired after 29 games on Thursday.

A 4-3 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday saw the Diamondbacks slump to 12-17 and Melvin’s dismissal after just over four seasons in charge was announced on the team’s website.
Minor league farm teams director A.J. Hinch, a 34-year-old former catcher during a seven-year Major League career, was named as Melvin’s replacement on Friday.
“Bob has done great things for this organization, “ Arizona general manager Josh Byrnes said in a statement.