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Astros: Several Former Astros Players are Now on AL West Coaching Staffs
Several former Houston Astros players are now coaching in our division.
Let’s take a look at them and see what all they have done from retirement until now
Note: the years in parentheses are the years the player played for the Astros
Servais (1991-1995;2001) is the Manager of the Seattle Mariners. He won a gold medal for the USA in the 1988 Olympics. He played for Creighton before being drafted by the Astros in 1988. He was a mainstay as a catcher from 1991-1995 when he was traded to the Cubs for Rick Wilkins. He played for them, the Giants, and the Rockies before he returned to the Astros in 2001 after being cut by the Tigers in Spring Training.
He retired in 2002 after not making the Giants Opening day roster. He was in the Rangers front office for several seasons before being hired as assistant general manager of the Angels in 2011, where he served in that capacity until last season, when he was passed up for general manager after incumbent Jerry DiPoto resigned. After DiPoto had been hired as general manager of the Mariners, he hired Servais as manager.
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Candaele (1988-1993) was the Astros utility infielder for several years. He played college baseball at Arizona, appearing in the college world series in 1980. The Expos signed him as a UFA in 1982. He was called up for the 1st time in 1986. He remained there until 1988 when he was traded to the Astros at the trade deadline. He remained with the Astros until 1993.
His best year was in 1991, batting. 262, 4 HR, and seven triples (good enough for 9th in the NL). He was out of the majors from 1994-95, only playing in the Minors. He finished his career with the Indians from 96-97, making his only playoff berth in 96. After retiring, he coached for the Rangers from 2011-15 before being hired by Seattle this season to be the 1st base coach.
Hampton (1994-1999;2009), ironically, started his career with the Mariners in 1993 before being traded to the Astros for Eric Anthony. It is no doubt one of the best trades in Astros History and one of the most lopsided in recent memory. His highlights while with the Astros consists of when he clinched the division for the Astros in 1997, throwing a complete game against the Cubs and earning an all-star appearance in 1999. He also finished runner-up in the Cy Young Award to Randy Johnson, in the off-season of his contract year, he was traded to the Mets. He then played for the Rockies and Braves before returning to Houston in 2009, but without much success.
He suffered yet another season-ending injury late in the season. He pitched a few games for the Diamondbacks in 2010 before retiring. He was coaching in the Angels farm system in 2012. He was hired by the Mariners this year as the bullpen coach, 23 years after debuting for them. I bet the Mariners are still kicking themselves for letting him go.
Bogar (1997-2000) mainly played shortstop but played the entire infield during his career. He played for the Mets from 1993-96 and Dodgers in 2001 as well. After retirement, he managed for several Astros minor league teams before going to the Indians Farm system. He coached for the Rays in 2008, Red Sox from 09-12, and Rangers in 2014, serving as interim manager for them the last three weeks of their disastrous season after Ron Washington resigned.
Despite a good small sample size of 14-8 and reports that they were about to hire him, he was passed for Jeff Bannister. He also was considered for the Astros Manager job but was passed for Hinch. He served as an assistant to General Manager for the Angels in 2015 before being hired as Bench Coach in 2016 for the Mariners.
Brocail (1995-96;01-02, though he never played due to injury;08-09) played for the Astros in two different stints, 12 years apart. His first stint started when he was traded to the Astros in the same trade that brought Ken Caminiti (among others) to the Padres. He then was traded to the Tigers in the same trade that brought Brad Ausmus to the Astros. He played there until 2000, when he was traded back to the Astros, once again, in the same trade that brought Brad Ausmus to the Astros.
He never played due to injury. He made a comeback with the Rangers and Padres, before returning to the Astros. He became the Astros Pitching Coach from 2011-2013 and a special assistant from 2014-15 before becoming the Rangers pitching coach in 2016.
Next: Houston Astros: Evan Gattis Returns, What About Tucker?
Honorable Mentions
Though they are not coaching in our division, Honorable mentions include Brad Ausmus (1997-98;01-08), who is the manager of the Tigers, Cody Clark (2013), and Doug Henry 1998-00), who is bullpen catcher and bullpen coach for the Royals, respectively.
***Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference**