HOUSTON — According to a source who spoke to MLB.com on Monday, Gary Pettis, whose trademark windmill arm gesture has been a mainstay in the Astros’ third-base coaching box for the previous ten years, will not be rejoining the coaching staff for the upcoming campaign. The longest-tenured staff member, Pettis coached outfield and baserunning and had a contract that expired at the end of the season. The transfer has not been verified by the team.
Before A.J. Hinch became manager in 2015, Pettis, 66, was employed by the Astros for ten seasons. In Houston, Pettis had three managers, including Dusty Baker and Hinch, who both won World Series. Pettis coached the Astros in four World Series (2017, 2019, 21–22) and the Rangers in two (2010, 2011).
Pettis was the Rangers’ outfield and baserunning coach throughout his eight seasons with Texas, two of which he spent as third-base coach and six of which he spent as first-base coach before joining the Astros. Pettis also worked for the White Sox (2001–02) and the Mets (2003–04). Before spending two years as Milwaukee’s Triple-A hitting instructor from 2005 to 2006, he started his coaching career as a traveling Minor League teacher with the Angels (1995) and White Sox (1997-2000).
Although Houston doesn’t anticipate making any further changes to manager Joe Espada’s staff for 2025, Astros first-base coach Dave Clark has years of experience as a third-base instructor and might be transferred across the field. Before losing to Hinch’s Tigers in the AL Wild Card Series, Espada took over as captain before this season and guided the Astros to their fourth straight American League West division victory.
Pettis, who spent 11 seasons in the Major Leagues with the Angels, Rangers, Tigers, and Padres, stole 354 bases and earned five Gold Gloves. He lost time in 2020 and 2021 due to multiple myeloma, a kind of blood disease. In the middle of the 2022 season, he came back. Due to an unexplained sickness, Pettis missed the entire 2022 ALCS sweep of the Yankees; however, he returned for the World Series.
