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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).
--Field Level Media
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