Astros hire Perezchica to coach third base, infield

HOUSTON -- The Astros made official the hiring of Tony Perezchica as their third-base and infield coach/run-prevention coordinator on Thursday. He replaces Gary Pettis, whose contract was not renewed after serving as third-base coach the previous 10 seasons.

Perezchica, who was the third-base coach for the Diamondbacks from 2017-24, spent several seasons in the Arizona organization as a Minor League manager, field coordinator and infield coordinator from 2003-16. A native of Mexicali, Mexico, he spent parts of four seasons in the Major Leagues as an infielder with the Giants (1988, '90-91) and Cleveland ('91-92).

The only other change to manager Joe Espada’s staff is Jason Bell, who served as quality assurance coach last season, taking on the role of Major League field coordinator/outfield coach.

Omar López returns for his second season as bench coach and sixth on the Major League staff; Dave Clark returns for his second season as first-base coach; hitting coach Alex Cintrón becomes the longest-tenured coach on the Astros staff with the 2025 season being his ninth on the staff (seventh as hitting coach); pitching coach Josh Miller and hitting coach Troy Snitker will each be in their seventh season on the Major League staff in 2025.

Major League coach Michael Collins returns for his sixth season as part of the staff and his eighth with the Astros organization, and pitching coach Bill Murphy will enter his fifth season on the staff. Tommy Kawamura, who joined the Major League staff as the game-planning coach in 2023, returns for his third season.