Joe Espada is a Puerto Rican professional baseball manager and coach, currently serving as the manager of the Houston Astros in Major League Baseball (MLB). Born on August 30, 1975, in Santurce, Puerto Rico, Espada played college baseball as a middle infielder at the University of Mobile, where he was a standout athlete in the mid-1990s. Although he reached as high as Triple-A as a player, he never appeared in the major leagues, transitioning instead into coaching and scouting roles early in his career[2][6]. Espada began his MLB coaching career with the Miami Marlins organization, serving as a minor league coach from 2006 to 2010 and as the Marlins’ third-base coach from 2010 to 2013. He then joined the New York Yankees as a scout and later as their third-base coach from 2015 to 2017. Following the Yankees tenure, Espada was hired by the Houston Astros as their bench coach in 2018, shortly after their first World Series title. During his five years in that role, he was a key clubhouse figure through seven consecutive American League Championship Series appearances, helping to sustain the Astros’ status as a top MLB contender[1][4]. On November 13, 2023, Espada was promoted from bench coach to manager of the Houston Astros, succeeding Dusty Baker, who retired after a distinguished 26-year managerial career. This appointment marked Espada’s first major league managerial role. General Manager Dana Brown praised Espada’s leadership, character, and communication skills, calling him a perfect fit for the job. Espada expressed gratitude for the opportunity, describing the promotion as a "dream come true" and encouraging his family to pursue their own dreams with determination[1][2][3]. In his first season managing the Astros in 2024, Espada led the team to an 88–73 record (.547 winning percentage), continuing the franchise’s competitive legacy[5]. Known for his strong work ethic, leadership, and connection to his Puerto Rican roots, Espada remains an influential figure both on and off the field, actively supporting youth baseball programs and serving as a role model in the Hispanic baseball community[6].