The Astros are turning to a familiar face to lead the club, hiring Yankees bench coach Brad Ausmus as their next manager on Wednesday.
Ausmus, 57, spent 10 seasons of his 18-year major league career behind the plate for Houston, playing for the Astros from 1997-98 and again from 2001-08. He also has prior managerial experience with the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brad back to the Astros organization,” general manager Randy Flores said Wednesday in announcing the hiring. “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. I am excited to work alongside Brad and happy to have him back in an Astros uniform.”
Houston’s search also included other reported candidates: sure-fire future Baseball Hall of Fame member Albert Pujols, Texas Rangers bench coach Luis Urueta and minor league skipper Morgan Ensberg, who was Ausmus’ teammate with the Astros.
The move comes after the Astros parted ways with Joe Espada on Oct. 14 following three seasons and two fast playoff exits. Espada went 256-229 in the regular season but was 0-4 in the postseason, with Houston swept by the Detroit Tigers in the 2024 American League wild-card round and the Chicago White Sox this season.
Ausmus’ playing résumé includes an All-Star nod with the Tigers in 1999 and three Gold Glove Awards. He hit .251 with 1,579 hits, 80 home runs and 607 RBIs across 1,971 games with the San Diego Padres (1993-96), Tigers (1996, 1999-2000), Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers (2009-10).
As a manager, Ausmus led Detroit to a 90-72 record and an American League Central title in his first season before the Tigers were swept by the Baltimore Orioles in the AL Division Series. He was not brought back after Detroit went 64-98 in 2017, and he finished with a 314-332 record there.
His lone season with the Angels ended with a 72-90 mark in 2019, and he later served as the Athletics’ bench coach in 2022 before joining Aaron Boone’s staff with the Yankees in 2024.
In Other News...
Angels Just Sent A Clear Message About Their Catching Plans
The Angels kept a familiar face in the mix behind the plate by bringing back Tyler Heineman on a one-year deal, a move that gives the club another piece of stability as it sorts out its catching picture for the upcoming season. It is the kind of low-drama roster decision that can matter more than it looks, especially for a team trying to firm up roles before the offseason gets any more unpredictable.
Los Angeles also brought back pitcher Sammy Peralta on a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training after he was outrighted to the minors, adding another arm to the organizational depth chart. With the expected MLB lockout looming, the Angels have been making these kinds of measured decisions now, trying to lock in options where they can and avoid leaving too many loose ends for later. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Face Growing Pressure On Zach Neto Before Crucial Deadline
The Angels have already started their general manager search at the MLB General Manager Meetings, but the bigger front-office question may be whether they can hold onto Zach Neto long enough to make a clear decision. Interim GM John Mozeliak acknowledged that interest in the star shortstop is picking up from multiple teams, which only adds to the pressure on a club that is trying to sort out its direction while the market around it keeps moving.
With the December 1 lockout looming, the Angels are working against a deadline that could shape the rest of their winter. Neto stands out as one of the more valuable shortstops available in trade discussions, especially with other options expected to hit the market this offseason, and that only makes the stakes higher for a team that has to decide whether to listen, hold firm or act before the window closes. [Read more 🡒]
Angels Pitching Draftee Just Gave Fans Another Reason To Believe
The Arizona Fall League regular season offered a useful late look at a handful of pitching prospects who helped raise their profiles, and one of the more encouraging takeaways for Angels fans was the way the group kept showing different paths to success. Jarlin Susana overpowered hitters with strikeouts and velocity, Peyton Olejnik worked with a slider that helped keep hard contact down, Ryan Dromboski impressed with secondary stuff even without eye-popping velocity, and Alejandro Chiquillo leaned on off-speed pitches to get hitters to chase.
For an Angels system that has been looking for more pitching depth, that kind of variety matters. It is one thing to have a prospect flash one loud trait, but it is another to see multiple arms succeed in different ways against advanced competition, especially when the performances are backed by measurable results from their outings. The next question is which of these arms can carry that momentum into a bigger stage, and that is where the real intrigue begins. [Read more 🡒]