Brad Ausmus was named manager of the Houston Astros, taking over after Joe Espada’s contract was not renewed following a Wild Card loss.
The Story
Houston Astros general manager Randy Flores announced on Wednesday that Brad Ausmus has been hired as the team’s new manager.
Flores said in a news release that he was “thrilled to welcome Brad back to the Astros organization,” adding that Ausmus impressed the team during interviews with his “leadership, energy, and expertise critical to driving a winning culture both on and off the field.”
Ausmus said he was excited to return to Houston, saying the Astros and the city have “been a huge part of my life” and that he is “thrilled to create a new chapter as the team’s manager.”
Ausmus replaces Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed after Houston was swept by the Chicago White Sox in a Wild Card series.
The appointment makes Ausmus the 21st manager in franchise history. It is also the third managerial job of his career, after he managed the Los Angeles Angels in 2019 and spent 2014 to 2017 leading the Detroit Tigers.
Most recently, Ausmus worked as the bench coach for the New York Yankees from 2024 through last season.
As a player, the 57-year-old Ausmus spent 10 years with the Astros from 1997-98 and 2001-08, winning three Gold Gloves in Houston and earning an All-Star selection in 1999 with the Tigers.
Ausmus played 1,971 major league games and appeared in 1,259 for the Astros, the most by a catcher in franchise history. He retired after the 2010 season, having also played for the Padres and the Dodgers.
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