Astros name Espada next manager
The Houston Astros are promoting from within, as the club named former bench coach Joe Espada as team manager at a press conference on Monday.
"He deserves it," Astros general manager Dana Brown said last week, according to The Athletic's Chandler Rome. "The guy's been doing a heck of a job as a bench coach. He's run our spring training and done a lot of good things here. He's got a good relationship with the players."
Brown said Espada was the Astros' top candidate after serving as the team's bench coach since 2018.
"I think Joe has special character, he's a family man, got great leadership skills. He's a pretty good communicator," the GM said, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart.
The 48-year-old also had stints as third base coach for the New York Yankees and Miami Marlins.
Joe Espada will be the second Latino manager in Astros history and first since Preston Gómez managed the club in 1974 and 1975
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) November 12, 2023
Espada replaces Dusty Baker, who announced his retirement following the Astros' loss to the Texas Rangers in the ALCS.
"I had a front-row seat to two incredible managers," Espada said about Baker and former Astros manager A.J. Hinch. "To say I was a bench coach to a future Hall of Fame manager was incredible."
This will be Espada's first managerial job at any level during his coaching career.