The Houston Astros have confirmed that Joe Espada will be their new manager. Although the deal is not yet official, the Astros have scheduled a press conference for Monday at 11 a.m. local time.
Espada will take over for retired manager Dusty Baker, making this the first managerial hire for general manager Dana Brown and a promotion from within the organization.
48-year-old Espada has served as the Astros’ bench coach since the 2018 season and has previously interviewed for managerial positions with other teams, including the Rangers and Cubs. He will be the second Latino manager in Astros history, following Preston Gómez (1974-75).
The Astros have been successful in recent years, making the last seven ALCS, winning the American League pennant four times, and claiming the World Series championships in 2017 and 2022. Their goal for next season is to win the World Series under Espada’s leadership.
The team’s roster includes talented players such as Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman, and Kyle Tucker on offense, along with a strong pitching staff including Framber Valdez, Justin Verlander, Cristian Javier, and Lance McCullers returning from injury. Last season, the Astros won 90 games and secured the AL West title.
Before becoming a coach, Espada played as a middle infielder and reached Triple-A level. He began his coaching career with the Greensboro Grasshoppers in 2006 and has since held various coaching positions before joining the Astros.
With the Astros’ managerial role filled, only the Brewers and Padres are currently seeking new managers.
