Astros hire Brad Ausmus as next manager

The Houston Astros named Brad Ausmus as their next manager on Wednesday, following his three years as the Yankees bench coach. Ausmus is set to be introduced at a press conference at Daikin Park on Friday. General manager Randy Flores expressed excitement about Ausmus's return to the organization, stating, “Brad impressed us throughout the interview process, demonstrating the leadership, energy, and expertise critical to driving a winning culture both on and off the field.”

Ausmus has extensive experience within the Astros, boasting ten seasons as a player and five years as a manager, with a record of 386-422 while managing the Tigers from 2014-2017 and the Angels in 2019. His tenure with the Angels ended with a 72-90 record, and the team is currently looking for their fifth manager since his departure. Throughout his managerial career, he notably led the Tigers to the AL Central title in 2014 and achieved 86 wins in 2016.

In addition to his Major League managerial experience, Ausmus has managed Team Israel during the 2012 World Baseball Classic Qualifiers and the 2026 tournament. He declared himself excited to return to Houston, acknowledging the importance of the Astros and the city in his life, while thanking the organization for the opportunity.

At 57, Ausmus has a strong rapport with Jeff Bagwell, a senior advisor to ownership and baseball operations, who was involved in the hiring process. The two were teammates on the Astros in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Ausmus replaces Joe Espada, who was not retained after three seasons, during which he secured two division titles.

Under Ausmus’s leadership, the Astros will next focus on assembling a coaching staff, including finding a replacement for bench coach Omar López, as they opted not to renew the contracts of several other coaches. Ausmus holds the distinction of catching more games than any other player in Astros history and played a pivotal role in leading the team to division titles in the late 1990s, as well as the 2005 World Series. His return is seen as a crucial step in maintaining a competitive edge in the upcoming seasons.