The Houston Astros have brought back Brent Strom, a highly respected pitching coach, to serve as a pitching consultant for the remainder of the season. Strom, 77, previously spent eight years with the organization.
Manager Joe Espada expressed enthusiasm about Strom's return, referring to him as "one of the architects for this organization on the pitching side of things." Espada stated he is "excited" to have Strom back to "listen to his perspective and his experience" as the team makes its push to win the division. The Astros currently hold a one-game lead in the AL West despite being at .500.
Strom is expected to join the team in New York this weekend for their series against the Mets and will be in the dugout during games. Houston's pitching has struggled this season, ranking 25th in MLB with a 4.65 ERA.
Espada highlighted Strom's extensive experience with both young and veteran pitchers, as well as his past World Series appearances with different organizations, as key reasons for his re-hiring. "I felt like this is the right time to bring someone who can help us continue to move things forward and help us get our guys better and finish strong," Espada said.
Strom's prior roles in Houston include serving as pitching coach from 2014 through 2021. He also has coaching experience with the Royals, Expos/Nationals, and Cardinals organizations throughout his career, which began with major league coaching stints in 1996 and from 2000 to 2001.