Astros Revamp Hitting Coaching Staff, Aim to Recapture Offensive Prowess

In the wake of a disappointing 2025 season, the Houston Astros have undertaken a major overhaul of their hitting coaching staff. Last month, the team parted ways with Troy Snitker and Alex Cintrón, who had shared the title of hitting coach.

General manager Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada have now finalized a new, three-person hitting department with a more clear hierarchy. Two of the hires are external: Victor Rodríguez from the San Diego Padres and Anthony Iapoce, formerly of the Detroit Tigers.

Additionally, Astros hitting coordinator Dan Hennigan, a biomechanics expert who joined the organization last year, has been promoted to director of hitting and will serve as the team's offensive coordinator. Hennigan will not be in uniform but will play a key role in disseminating game plans and other data-driven preparation methods.

"I think it's a complete overhaul of how we did things and we have the hierarchy (and) distinct roles we feel good about," Brown said on November 13th. The team believes the new structure and fresh perspectives from the external hires will help them return to better pitch selection, deeper counts, and improved slugging, which eluded them during the 2025 season.

Last year, the Astros scored three or fewer runs in 82 of their 162 games, though injuries and a roster littered with similar offensive profiles were more to blame than coaching. The team is hopeful that the new-look hitting department can help them regain their offensive prowess and return to the postseason in 2026.