UPDATE:
The Houston Astros announced Joe Espada as the 20th full-time manager in club history during a press conference today. Espada is a familiar face for the organization, having spent the last six seasons as the bench coach for the team. Prior to joining the Astros, Espada previously worked for the New York Yankees and the Miami Marlins.
This will be Espada’s first managerial job in Major League Baseball. Espada had two stints as a skipper in the Puerto Rican Winter League, the first with Manati (2012-13) and the second with Carolina (2014-15). He also served as a third base coach for Team Puerto Rico in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics.
Espada, a native of Puerto Rico, played for 10 seasons in the Minor Leagues after being selected in the second round of the MLB Draft in 1996 by the Oakland A’s. He spent time in the Oakland, Florida, Colorado, Kansas City, St. Louis, Texas and Tampa Bay organizations as a player, reaching Triple-A.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Astros have chosen their new manager. ESPN reports that Houston is set to promote longtime bench coach Joe Espada to the manager position. The 48-year-old has been a member of the Astros' coaching staff since 2018. This will be his first time as a Major League manager after previous stints as a coach with the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins. Former Houston manager Dusty Baker retired following the team's loss to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS last month. Espada is the fifth new MLB manager hired this winter, joining Craig Counsell of the Cubs, Bob Melvin of the Giants, Ron Washington of the Angels, Carlos Mendoza of the Mets and Stephen Vogt of the Guardians.