With the Houston Astros hiring former St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager and former player Randy Flores as the ball club's next general manager, he is bringing a unique perspective to the role. As the Astros made the hire of Flores, the new general manager would express how his playing career is going to impact how he views the league.

Flores replaces Dana Brown, who had been the general manager with Houston from 2023 to 2026, as his playing career saw him as a relief pitcher from 2002 to 2010. However, it was far from smooth sailing in the majors, as he would speak on MLB Network about how his “grind” of a career gives him a different “perspective” than most.

“One of the things that I think the playing career has afforded me, and certainly the type of playing career that I've had, meaning someone who had a grind…not a big bonus, parts of nine years in the minor leagues. You know, the game has hurt me. It's broken me,” Flores said.

“It's brought me to tears by being sent down or being released or being hurt, to not knowing if you're good enough to make it, and then to have some stars align,” Flores continued. “And I think that perspective affords me the empathy for the modern player, the fishbowl that they live under, the acknowledgement and the awareness that this game is not easy.”

“I think that perspective affords me the empathy for the modern player…”@Astros GM Randy Flores discusses his background as a former professional who has spent the last 12 years working in a front office.

MLB Network + @SageUSAmerica https://t.co/Dyo6TAE6eK pic.twitter.com/8BVrzHzCdx

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) November 3, 2026

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Flores would continue, saying it's “easy” for people in front office roles to critique players for playing poorly, and while he acknowledges the Astros will have “high standards and accountability,” empathy for players will always be there.

“There's one thing that I aim to never lose, and that's to understand and empathize for how hard this game is against the best players in the world every single day, exposing any flaw a player has,” Flores said.

At any rate, Flores looks to bring a new breath of fresh air to Houston as the team looks to improve after finishing with an 81-81 record, winning the AL Central.