The Astros Bring Back Brad Ausmus as Manager

A familiar face is back in Houston. The Astros named Brad Ausmus their new manager on Wednesday, the 21st manager in franchise history. He replaces Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed after the season. New general manager Randy Flores announced the hire, and Ausmus will be formally introduced on Friday.

Why the Astros Needed a Manager

Houston went 81-81 in 2026 but still won the AL West, its fifth division title in six years. According to the AP, the Astros became the first team in MLB history to make the postseason without a winning record in a full season. Then the White Sox swept them in the Wild Card Series, and Espada was out.

Who Is Brad Ausmus?

Astros fans know him as a catcher. Ausmus, 57, played 18 seasons in the majors, 10 of them in Houston (1997-98 and 2001-08). He won three Gold Gloves with the Astros, caught 1,259 games for them, the most by a catcher in franchise history, and was behind the plate when Houston reached the 2005 World Series. He made the 1999 All-Star team with Detroit.

He has managed twice before:

• Tigers (2014-17): 314-332. His first team went 90-72 and won the AL Central before Baltimore swept them in the Division Series.
• Angels (2019): 72-90 in his only season.

That is 386-422 over five seasons. He has also worked in front-office roles with the Padres and Angels, and he was most recently Aaron Boone’s bench coach with the Yankees. He also interviewed for the Astros’ manager job in 2020 and their GM job in 2022.

“The Astros and the city of Houston have been a huge part of my life,” Ausmus said in the team’s announcement.

My Take

This is a safe, familiar hire for a team that wants to stay on top in the AL West. Ausmus knows the organization and the city, and he comes straight from the Yankees’ dugout. His managing record is below .500, so the real test is whether the Astros give him a roster that can do more than sneak into October.

If you are planning a trip to see the Astros, here is my post on Minute Maid Park, now called Daikin Park.

Still Open

The Angels are the only team still without a manager. Seattle hired Jason Kanzler earlier this month.

Photo: Brad Ausmus, 2014, by GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.