Pujols and Urueta Among Candidates to Manage the Houston Astros
The Astros are looking for a new manager, and two Dominicans, Albert Pujols and Luis "Pipe" Urueta, are among the candidates.
Key points
- Pujols and Urueta have been called in for interviews by the Houston Astros.
- The Astros are looking to replace Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed.
- Pujols will be interviewed later this week.
- Urueta traveled to the United States to meet with Houston executives.
The Houston Astros have called in Albert Pujols and Luis "Pipe" Urueta for interviews as part of the process to choose the team's new manager, according to Lidom.com.
Pujols, 46, is a three-time National League Most Valuable Player and a two-time World Series champion. He will be interviewed later this week. Brad Ausmus, currently bench coach of the New York Yankees and a former Houston catcher, is also among the candidates.
Urueta, current manager of the Águilas Cibaeñas in the 2026-27 season of the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM), traveled to the United States to meet with Houston executives. While he is away, Andy Fermín will serve as interim manager of the Águilas. The Dominican-Colombian skipper has experience as bench coach of the Texas Rangers, the Miami Marlins, and the Arizona Diamondbacks. He also served as Arizona's interim manager in 2020 and managed Colombia's national team at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
The Astros are looking to replace Joe Espada, whose contract was not renewed. Houston finished 81-81, won the American League West, and was later swept by the Chicago White Sox in the Wild Card Series.
Pujols retired in 2022 after 22 seasons in the Major Leagues. This year he led the Dominican Republic to third place at the World Baseball Classic. In the previous hiring cycle, he was also interviewed by the Los Angeles Angels and the San Diego Padres.
Why it matters
A Dominican could lead a Major League club, a development that will excite fans in the Dominican Republic and the Dominican community in the United States.