Rodríguez joining Astros' staff as new hitting coach (source)

HOUSTON -- Victor Rodríguez, who served the past two seasons as the Padres' hitting coach and was also the assistant hitting coach for the Red Sox (2013–17) and Guardians (2018–23), will join the Astros' coaching staff as hitting coach in 2026, a source told MLB.com.

Rodríguez, 64, is the first addition to manager Joe Espada’s staff following the departure of four coaches at the end of the regular season -- hitting coaches Alex Cintrón and Troy Snitker, pitching coach Bill Murphy and catching coach Michael Collins. Cintrón (Rangers), Snitker (Mets) and Murphy (Pirates) have each landed a new job.

The Padres were 20th in batting average in 2023 (.244) before Rodríguez took over, but they led the Majors in hitting in ‘24 (.263) and had the lowest strikeout rate (17.6%). Last season, the Padres were seventh in hitting (.252) and had the third-lowest strikeout rate (19.1%), though they were 18th in runs scored (702).

A season after leading the AL in batting average (.262) in 2024, the Astros’ offense regressed this year, though injuries played a huge part. They ranked 21st in MLB in runs (686), tied for 16th in homers (182), 26th in walks (471), tied for 11th in average (.250), tied for 14th in OPS (.714) and 23rd in batting average with runners in scoring position (.245). Houston was 28th in pitches seen per plate appearance.

Not only did the Astros lose elite offensive performers in Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman from the 2024 team, but Yordan Alvarez missed 100 games while recovering from a broken bone in his hand and missed the final 15 games with a sprained ankle. All-Star third baseman Isaac Paredes missed more than two months with a hamstring strain, All-Star shortstop Jeremy Peña was out more than a month with a broken rib and Jake Meyers missed substantial time with a calf injury.

Prior to joining the Red Sox's Major League staff in 2013, Rodríguez spent six seasons as Boston’s Minor League hitting coordinator (2007-12), a position he also held in 2002. From 2004-06, he was the club’s Latin field coordinator after serving as a Minor League hitting instructor in 2003.

Rodríguez served six seasons as a hitting coach in the Red Sox system with Class A Advanced Sarasota (1996-98), Rookie-level Gulf Coast League Red Sox (1999, 2001) and Class A Augusta (2000). He began his coaching career in the Boston organization in 1995 after playing in 31 games with Triple-A Pawtucket.

A native of New York, Rodríguez was signed by the Orioles in 1977 at the age of 15 out of Puerto Rico. He played for parts of 19 professional seasons with the Orioles (1977-84), Padres (1985), Cardinals (1986-87), Twins (1988-91), Phillies (1992-93), Marlins (1994) and Red Sox (1995).

Rodríguez played in 17 Major League games with the Orioles (1984) and Twins (1989) and was 12-for-28. In 1,759 Minor League games, he hit .295 with 102 home runs and 774 RBIs.