Astros bring back veteran pitching mentor Strom as consultant

Brent Strom has rejoined the Houston Astros as a pitching consultant, appearing in the dugout during Saturday's game against the Mets. The 77-year-old former pitching coach has been working with reliever Bryan Abreu, who credits Strom's guidance for his resurgence. The move comes days after the team dismissed general manager Dana Brown, with Hall of Famer Jeff Bagwell among those who requested Strom's return.

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Strom's return came through a direct call from Hall of Fame first baseman Jeff Bagwell roughly 48 hours before Saturday's game, with Bagwell emerging as a key voice in the four-person group now steering baseball operations after Dana Brown's dismissal. Strom consulted his wife Carrie before accepting, and he stressed this is not a nostalgia tour but a working role meant to support the current staff.

The 77-year-old brings five decades of professional experience to a pitching staff that entered Saturday with baseball's sixth-highest ERA. He spent time with relievers in left field before the game, and his bond with Abreu runs deep — Strom once predicted Abreu would anchor Houston's staff