Houston Astros Hire Former Catcher Brad Ausmus as New Manager

The Houston Astros announced on Wednesday afternoon that they have hired Brad Ausmus as their new manager. The former franchise catcher returns to Houston after most recently serving as the bench coach for the New York Yankees. The move marks the third managerial position of Ausmus' Major League Baseball coaching career.

Returning to Familiar Ground in Houston

Ausmus spent 10 combined seasons playing for the Astros across two stints. He was initially acquired by Houston during the 1996-97 MLB offseason after spending time with the San Diego Padres from 1993 to 1996 and playing a half-season with the Detroit Tigers in 1996. After being traded back to Detroit in the 1998-99 offseason, Ausmus returned to the Astros for an eight-season run from 2001 to 2008.

During his time behind the plate in Houston, Ausmus earned three career Gold Gloves, winning the award in 2001, 2002, and 2006. He was the starting catcher for the 2005 Astros club that won the National League pennant.

Statistically, Ausmus ranks third in Astros history with 11.3 defensive wins above replacement. He recorded 970 hits and posted a .246 batting average during his tenure with the team.

"I am very excited to be back in Houston," Ausmus said. "The Astros and the City of Houston have been a huge part of my life, and I’m thrilled to create a new chapter as the team’s manager. I’d like to thank Randy and the entire Astros organization for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get to work."

A New Era Under Randy Flores

The hiring of Ausmus is a major addition for Randy Flores, the Astros' new general manager.

"We are thrilled to welcome Brad back to the Astros organization," Flores said. "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."

Previous Managerial Experience

Ausmus brings five seasons of managerial experience to the Astros dugout. Before managing, he worked as a field executive for the Padres from 2011 to 2013.

His first managerial job came with the Detroit Tigers, where he managed from 2014 to 2017. Ausmus compiled a 314-332 record in Detroit, leading the team to a playoff appearance in his first season in 2014.

Following his time with the Tigers, Ausmus took over as manager of the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. He posted a 72-90 record and was fired after one year. He later joined the Yankees as their bench coach before accepting the top job in Houston.