The Houston Astros were swept in the AL Wild Card Series after an 81-81 season was enough to win the AL West. After the disappointing season, the Astros decided to move on from Joe Espada as the manager. The Astros have hired Brad Ausmus to be the next manager.

Now, Ausmus is breaking his silence on becoming the manager of the Astros, per Brian McTaggart of MLB.com.

“I am very excited to be back in Houston. The Astros and the City of Houston have been a huge part of my life, and I’m thrilled to create a new chapter as the team’s manager. I’d like to thank Randy and the entire Astros organization for this opportunity, and I can’t wait to get to work,” Ausmus said.

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Ausmus had two different stints with the Astros as a player. His first game in 1997. After he was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Astros. He had a solid two years with the Astros, with a positive WAR both years. Still, he was traded back to the Tigers ahead of the 1999 season. After two years, the Tigers sent Ausmus back to the Astros, where he would be from 2001 through 2008. He won three Gold Gloves in his second stint with the team and also hit a massive home run for the team.

Ausmus hit a two-out, game-tying home run in the bottom of the ninth against the Atlanta Braves in Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS. Houston would go on to win the game in the 18th inning, clinching the series. Houston made it to the World Series that year, losing to the Chicago White Sox.