Major League Pitching Instructor Houston Astros
Brent Strom is one of baseball’s most respected pitching coaches and player-development specialists. Born in San Diego on 14 October 1948, he combines traditional pitching knowledge with biomechanics, data and modern analytics.
Playing Career
A left-handed pitcher, Strom helped the University of Southern California win NCAA championships in 1968 and 1970. He pitched a three-hit complete game in the 1970 championship game and earned First-Team All-America honours that season. The New York Mets subsequently selected him third overall in the first round of the 1970 MLB Draft.
Strom played parts of five Major League seasons with the New York Mets, Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres. Across 100 appearances and 501 innings, he recorded a 22–39 record, a 3.95 ERA and 278 strikeouts.
Coaching Career
Since beginning his coaching career in 1981, Strom has established a reputation for helping pitchers improve at both Minor League and Major League level. He served as Houston Astros pitching coach from 2014 to 2021, contributing to three World Series appearances and the club’s 2017 championship. He subsequently guided the Arizona Diamondbacks’ pitching staff from 2022 to 2024, including their run to the 2023 World Series.
Named Baseball America’s MLB Coach of the Year in 2018, Strom joined the Pittsburgh Pirates as assistant pitching coach for the 2025 season. In August 2026, he returned to the Astros as a pitching consultant for the remainder of the season.
Strom was selected for the 2026 College Baseball Hall of Fame class in recognition of his outstanding collegiate career. The induction ceremony is scheduled for February 2027.
