Did the Astros Make a Mistake Hiring Brad Ausmus as Manager?

The Houston Astros announced late Wednesday morning that they have officially welcomed Brad Ausmus back to the organization, but this time as their manager.

Ausmus was officially introduced as the Astros’ new manager during a press conference at Daikin Park on Friday.

This was Randy Flores’ first big move with the Astros, and people are questioning this decision with good reason. Many do not seem thrilled with the idea of bringing Ausmus back, so there is a lot riding on this hire.

Ausmus’ managerial record is below .500, which is concerning, and some fans have questioned whether bringing back another familiar face is the right direction for an organization looking for change.

He previously managed the Detroit Tigers from 2014–2017 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. His combined managerial record was 386–422, which is making people question Flores’ choice.

Most recently, he was in New York, where he was the Yankees’ bench coach from 2024 through 2026.

Houston just finished 81–81. Why hire someone whose previous teams also struggled to win consistently?

His history with the Astros was likely viewed as a plus, but it also raises questions about whether the organization is really moving in a new direction.

Ausmus is a former Astro. He played parts of 10 seasons with Houston across two stints, and he was the Astros’ catcher during their 2005 World Series appearance.

While this seems like an experienced hire, his experience isn’t giving some fans any confidence.

That said, it has been a while since he managed in the majors, and he could have a different philosophy with the extra experience under his belt since his time managing the Tigers and the Angels.

That leaves one question: Should Houston have taken a chance on someone else?

This is no small task for a manager to take on.

Ausmus is inheriting a team facing significant roster decisions, and the pressure is on to help guide this organization to a better season than an 81–81 record.

It is hard to say, really, whether or not this was a bad decision for Houston.

Houston didn’t hire someone with a winning managerial track record, but that doesn’t automatically mean it made a mistake. Ausmus has another opportunity to prove himself, and this time, he’ll be doing it with the organization where he spent much of his playing career.