Houston Astros

Astros hire Brad Ausmus, making him Major League Baseball’s only Jewish manager

Ausmus, a former catcher, played for the Astros from 1997 to 1998 and again from 2001 to 2008. He won three Gold Glove Awards for his defense with Houston and was an All-Star in 1999 with Detroit.

|ByJACOB GURVIS/JTA
Manager Brad Ausmus #11 of Team Israel looks on from the dugout prior to the 2026 World Baseball Classic Pool D game presented by Capital One between Team Israel and Team Venezuela at loanDepot park on Saturday, Miami, March 7, 2026.
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (57) reacts and Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) runs to first base after hitting a home run during the first inning at Minute Maid Park, September 30, 2022.

Astros Jewish secret weapon for the Playoffs

Astros manager Dusty Baker hopes matzah ball soup will give his team a playoffs boost

|ByMATT SAMUELS/JTA
Israeli Space Murals by Anat Ronen

Israeli Consulate in Houston beautifying city and advancing peace through arts

|ByALAN ROSENBAUM
Oct 29, 2019; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) hits a solo home run against the Washington Nationals in the first inning in game six of the 2019 World Series at Minute Maid Park

Alex Bregman breaks a World Series home run record

It was his third homer of this year’s Series, which also made him the youngest American League player to hit three in a Fall Classic since Mickey Mantle in 1956.

|ByGABE FRIEDMAN/JTA