Houston Astros Elect Not to Bring Back Longtime Third Base Coach Gary Pettis

Gary Pettis did not have his contract renewed by the Houston Astros after winning two World Series and four AL pennants across 10 seasons as the team's third base coach.

Aug 10, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) is congratulated by third base coach Gary Pettis (8) after hitting a home run during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. / Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The Houston Astros did not renew the contract of third base coach Gary Pettis for the 2025 season, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Monday.

Pettis was the longest-tenured member of the Astros' coaching staff, having joined the organization back in 2015. He was brought in by AJ Hinch, worked under Dusty Baker and was retained by Joe Espada, winning two World Series and four American League pennants during his decade with the club.

Although he spent time on leave in 2020 and 2021 as he received treatment for multiple myeloma – a form of blood cancer – Pettis is technically the only coach who was part of the Astros' entire streak of seven consecutive ALCS appearances. That streak came to an end this fall, as has Pettis' time in Houston.

The Athletic's Chandler Rome and MLB.com's Brian McTaggart seconded Nightengale's reporting soon after.

Gary Pettis, one of the finest third base coaches (and people) in the game, has been let go by the Houston Astros after 10 years on the job. Pettis, a 5-time Gold Glove center fielder as a player,
has been an MLB coach for 27 years. The Astros are not renewing his contract.

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) October 14, 2024

Pettis had an 11-year MLB career of his own that spanned from 1982 to 1992. He won five Gold Gloves, recorded 855 hits and stole 354 bases as a member of the California Angels, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers and San Diego Padres.

After his playing days were over, Pettis spent time as a coach with the Angels, Chicago White Sox and New York Mets. He then returned to the Rangers for Ron Washington's entire managerial tenure from 2007 to 2014, starting out as a first base coach before becoming a third base coach.

Pettis, 66, will either retire or look for a job with another team. There were rumors last winter that Pettis would leave to reunite with Washington on the Angels, and now there do not appear to be any barriers to him doing so.

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