Brad Ausmus has been appointed as the new manager of the Houston Astros, marking a return to the organization where he spent 10 seasons as a player.
The hiring process began when Ausmus initially interviewed for the team’s general manager vacancy.
During that meeting, discussions regarding the managerial role also took place, though Ausmus noted he was not assured of the position at that time.
The Astros ultimately selected Randy Flores as general manager, as detailed in reports from the Houston Chronicle.
Flores later confirmed that he identified Ausmus as a top candidate and conducted further research before finalizing the decision.
Following a four-hour lunch meeting in San Diego, Flores expressed confidence in his choice, citing Ausmus’ authenticity and experience.
Regarding his selection, Flores stated that Ausmus was “the choice I wanted to make” because of the trust he felt in their partnership.
Ausmus described the experience as a positive one, noting that he felt an immediate rapport with the new general manager.
“I went home and told my wife, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to get it, but I really liked him, I really enjoyed talking to him,’” Ausmus said during his introductory news conference.
The managerial search included four finalists, including Albert Pujols and Morgan Ensberg, as reported by local sports outlets.
Ausmus now faces the immediate challenge of assembling a coaching staff and building relationships with players before a potential December lockout.
He plans to retain several coaches from the 2026 staff, including Josh Miller and Victor Rodriguez, while working to fill remaining vacancies.
Ausmus previously managed the Detroit Tigers and the Los Angeles Angels, accumulating a career record of 386-422.
Reflecting on his return to Houston, Ausmus expressed optimism about his future with the club.
“I just felt like at some point it would work itself out – karma, fate, whatever – that I’d come back to Houston in some role,” Ausmus said.
He added, “And I’m very excited that that role is the manager’s role.”