HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros announced today that the club has named Al Pedrique as bench coach and Bobby Meacham as first base coach for the 2010 season. The club has also declined its 2010 contract option on right-handed pitcher Doug Brocail, making him eligible to become a free agent. The announcements were made by General Manager Ed Wade.
Al Pedrique has been named the new Houston Astros bench coach for the 2010 season. He will join new manager Brad Mills to try and turn the team around next year.
The 2010 season will mark Pedrique’s sixth year in the Astros organization, as he joined the club in November of 2004 as special assistant to the general manager. In 2009, he served as the Astros minor league field coordinator and joined the Astros Major
League staff in September as third base coach. Pedrique was named interim manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second half of the 2004 season after opening the year as the team’s third base coach. A native of Venezuela, he has more than 31 years of experience in baseball as a player, coach and manager.
“Anytime we get somebody on our staff who has been in the organization and has first-hand knowledge of the players on the team is extremely important,” said Astros Manager Brad Mills. “To have a guy with Al’s background is very exciting.”
Meacham, 49, joins the Astros organization after previously serving as a coach for the Phillies Class A affiliate the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2009. Prior to that role, he spent three years as a Major League coach with the Yankees (third base), Padres (first base) and Marlins (third base).
In 17 years since 1992, Meacham has served in various roles as a manager, roving infield instructor and roving baserunning coach for the Rockies (1993, 2005), Angels (2002-04), Pirates (1994-2001) and Royals (1992).
Originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1981 First-Year Player Draft, Meacham appeared in 457 Major League games over parts of six seasons from 1983-88 with the Yankees, posting a .236 (324x1371) career batting average.
“Having a guy with Bobby’s knowledge and expertise working with our infielders and to have his experience as a Major League coach is extremely valuable,” Mills said.
Brocail, 42, went 1-0 with a 4.58 ERA (9ER/17.2IP) in 20 relief appearances with Houston in 2009. He made three trips to the Disabled List for various health issues and missed 99 team games while recovering. In 626 career Major League games, he is 52-48 with a 4.00 ERA (391ER/880IP) and nine saves for San Diego (1992-94, 2006-07), Houston (1995-96, 2008-09), Detroit (1997-2000) and Texas (2004-05).
