Who says you can’t go home? 

Brent Strom, the 77-year-old highly respected pitching mind who spent eight years as the Astros pitching coach, is headed back to the organization to work as a pitching consultant for the remainder of the season. 

Manager Joe Espada called Strom “one of the architects for this organization on the pitching side of things” and said he is “excited” to have him back with the Astros to “listen to his perspective and his experience.” 

Pitching coach Brent Strom of the Houston Astros looks on against the Atlanta Braves during a Grapefruit League spring training game at CoolToday Park in North Port, Florida, on Tuesday, March 10, 2020. Getty Images

“There’s a value of having him around right now as we make this push here to win the division,” Espada said, per MLB.com.

Strom is joining the club in New York this weekend when they face the Mets in a three-game series at Citi Field, with the plan for him to be in the dugout during the games. 

Houston’s pitching has been one of the worst in the majors this year, with a 4.65 ERA ranking 25th among all 30 MLB franchises. 

The Astros are sitting with a one-game lead in the AL West even though the club is at an even .500. 

Espada viewed Strom as someone who can help the team right now, especially with his extensive experience. 

Brent Strom of the Pittsburgh Pirates is seen in the dugout during the third inning of a Spring Training game against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida, on March 16, 2025. Diamond Images/Getty Images

“This is someone who’s had some of our guys — experience with young pitchers, veteran pitchers,” Espada said. “He’s been in the World Series with different organizations, and I felt like this is the right time to bring someone who can help us continue to move things forward and help us get our guys better and finish strong.”

Strom had been a major league pitching coach for Houston in 1996 and the Royals from 2000 to 2001. He spent five seasons as the minor league pitching coordinator for the Expos/Nationals organization and then later went to the Cardinals. 

He joined the Astros again as pitching coach in 2014 and was there through 2021.