Astros make longtime coach Joe Espada first-time manager

Longtime Astros coach Joe Espada became a first-time big-league manager in Houston on Monday.

Espada, an assistant in Houston since 2018, was hired to replace Dusty Baker and was identified as an extension of the Astros' record run of success that includes three American League pennants and a World Series title.

Espada, 48, was the bench coach for the Astros each of the past six seasons, including all 79 postseason games the franchise played during that time.

"We feel that Joe is a great fit to run our ballclub," Astros general manager Dana Brown said Monday. "He has a great relationship with our players and staff and has been an integral part of the Astros success for several seasons. He knows the organization from top to bottom. Joe has a great baseball mind and has great passion and enthusiasm. He has been in the game for a long time, knows what it takes to win and has certainly earned this opportunity."

While Espada is not a first-time manager, his only experience in that role came in the Puerto Rican Winter League with Manati (2012-13) and Carolina (2014-15). He was third base coach for Team Puerto Rico in the 2013 and 2017 World Baseball Classics.

Espada's 13 total seasons as an assistant coach include three seasons as the Yankees third base coach from 2015-17 and four seasons as Marlins' third base coach (2010-13). He also worked in scouting for the Yankees in 2014.

A Major League Baseball player for 10 seasons starting in 1996, Espada was an infielder drafted in the second round by the Oakland Athletics in 1996 and played for the team until 2000. He also had stints with Florida (2001), which is now Miami, Colorado (2001), Kansas City (2002), St. Louis (2003), Texas (2003) and Tampa Bay (2004).