When the Twins clinched the 2002 American League Division Series against the heavily favored Oakland Athletics, Hocking broke his hand in the ensuing celebration. Hocking caught the final out of Game 5 and players piled on top of him. A player he believed to be teammate Jacque Jones stepped on the middle finger of his right hand and split the nail in two places. This injury forced Hocking to miss the entire 2002 American League Championship Series.