By Doc McElroy

Was two-time conference Player of the Year; Set season and career records

HOUSTON, TX – Astros manager Joe Espada was inducted into the University of Mobile Athletics Hall of Fame back on April 4.. He was one of five members inducted at the second annual University of Mobile Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet.

As an infielder at Mobile, which is located in Alabama, Espada excelled, hitting .468 in 1995 and .446 in 1996. Those are the top two single-season batting averages in the school’s history. He also owns the school’s record for career batting average, hitting a combined .442 in his three seasons there. Espada twice was named Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Year. Following the 1996 school year, Espada was selected in the second round of the MLB June Draft by the Oakland A’s.

This was not the first time that Espada will be recognized by his alma mater. In the Fall of 2019, his No. 6 baseball jersey was retired by the University, making him the third player with this distinction.

After spending six seasons as the Astros bench coach, Espada was named as the Astros manager on Nov. 13, 2023. On Monday (April 1), with Ronel Blanco’s no-hitter vs. Toronto, Espada became the first manager ever to earn his first Major League win via a no-hitter.

COURTESY ASTROS MEDIA RELATIONS