The Houston Astros are promoting bench coach Joe Espada to be their manager, according to multiple reports on Sunday.
The Astros have a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. CT on Monday with general manager Dana Brown, who is expected to announce Espada as the replacement for the retired Dusty Baker.
Espada, 48, has been the bench coach since 2018 for the Astros, who have reached seven consecutive American League Championship Series. Houston, which was the World Series in 2022, lost to the eventual champion Texas Rangers in seven games in the ALCS this season.
Espada has yet to manage in the majors, with his previous coaching experience including managing in the Puerto Rican Winter League.
He was the third base coach for the New York Yankees from 2015-17 and has interviewed in recent years for several managerial positions, including with the Miami FMarlins, San Francisco Giants and Chicago White Sox.
Espada played professional baseball as a middle infielder from 1996 to 2006 in the minors (reaching Triple A), international leagues and independent leagues.
He was a hitting coach of the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the South Atlantic League (2006) and Jupiter Hammerheads of the Florida State League (2007) before becoming minor league infield coordinator for the Marlins from 2008-09.
–Field Level Media