HOUSTON (MCT) — Former University of Iowa dual-sport athlete and Iowa Cubs outfielder Bo Porter has been selected as the manager of Major League Baseball’s Houston Astros, the organization announced Thursday. Porter was an outfielder and defensive back for the Hawkeyes from 1990-94.
“We are thrilled to be announcing that Bo Porter is going to be our next manager,” said Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow. “He has a tremendous amount of experience and has worked under some great managers. He has seen different styles, worked under different managers and learned a lot from them.”
Porter will become a first-time manager with the Astros after two seasons with the playoff bound Washington Nationals. He has also been on major league staffs in Florida and Arizona, while also serving as a minor league manager and outfield and base running coordinator.
“His style is probably his biggest asset,” Luhnow said. “He’s a natural-born leader, very charismatic, you all will get to know him over time. He’s a motivational speaker, but not to the extent where you hear it five times then it wanes. He’s able to connect individually and with groups and is able to get the most out of people. That’s really what we found to be the most compelling element of his style.”
Porter played three seasons in the majors as an outfielder for the Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers. He was drafted in the 40th round of the 1993 Major League Baseball Draft by the Cubs before making his MLB debut in 1999.
Porter was Iowa’s starting centerfielder in 1993, hitting .318 with 33 RBIs, eight doubles, four home runs and nine stolen bases. He was a three-year letterman in football from 1992-94, earning team MVP honors as a senior.