The Houston Astros, a prestigious American professional baseball organization, has named bench coach Joe Espada (48) as the next manager of the team, replacing Dusty Baker (74).
ESPN and other U.S. media outlets reported on Wednesday that the Astros will officially announce Espada’s promotion to manager.
Baker, the oldest manager in Major League Baseball, announced his retirement after the Astros lost to the Texas Rangers in the American League Championship Series (ALCS). In its search for a new manager, Houston opted for stability over big changes. Instead of making an outside hire, the team turned to longtime bench coach Espada.
Espada, a native of Puerto Rico, was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the second round of the 1996 First-Year Player Draft and spent a decade playing in the minor leagues and independent leagues. He reached Triple-A but never played in the majors.굿모닝토토
After his playing career, he began his coaching career in 2006 as a minor league coach with the Miami Marlins. Promoted to the major leagues in 2010, Espada took over as third base coach and spent four years as a third base coach and scout with the New York Yankees, starting in 2014, before moving to Houston in 2018.
In Houston, he assisted managers A.J. Hinch and Dusty Baker and helped the Astros win two World Series titles and advance to the ALCS for seven straight years.
Espada, who becomes the 20th full-time manager in Houston’s history, is known for his personality and affability, making him a favorite among staff and players and an excellent communicator.
In recent years, he has been considered and interviewed for managerial positions with the Miami, San Francisco Giants, and Chicago White Sox, among others. It would be the first time in Houston’s franchise history that a manager of Latin American descent has led the team since Preston Gomez, who was at the helm from 1974 to 1975.