The Houston Astros name Brad Arnsberg as pitching coach and Al Pedrique as bench coach for the 2010 season, General Manager Ed Wade announced last week.

The club also named Bobby Meacham as first base coach for the upcoming campaign.

The 2010 season will mark Pedrique’s sixth year in the Astros organization, as he joined the club in November of 2004 as special assistant to the general manager. In 2009, he served as the Astros minor league field coordinator and joined the Astros Major League staff in September as third base coach. Pedrique was named interim manager for the Arizona Diamondbacks for the second half of the 2004 season after opening the year as the team’s third base coach. A native of Venezuela, he has more than 31 years of experience in baseball as a player, coach and manager.

“Anytime we get somebody on our staff who has been in the organization and has first-hand knowledge of the players on the team is extremely important,” said Astros Manager Brad Mills. “To have a guy with Al’s background is very exciting.”

Arnsberg, who joins the Astros organization for the first time in his career, has served as the Toronto Blue Jays pitching coach for the last five seasons since being named to the role on Oct. 4, 2004. The 2010 season will mark his 10th season as a Major League coach.

“Adding Brad Arnsberg to our staff represents a huge step in the right direction,” Wade said. “Brad has a wealth of Major League coaching experience and has a proven track record of success working with both veterans and younger pitchers. He is a key hire for the Astros.”

Arnsberg, 46, began his coaching career overseas with the Wei-Chen Dragons of the Taiwan Professional Baseball League in 1994. From 1995-99, he coached in the Texas Rangers minor league system before starting his career as a Major League coach with the Montreal Expos in 2000. He served as bullpen coach before being promoted to pitching coach during the 2000 season. He was named the Florida Marlins pitching coach in 2002 and joined the Blue Jays organization in 2004 as the Triple A pitching coach.

“I am elated and excited to join the Astros family,” said Arnsberg. “I want to give a special thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays for everything they have done for me over the last five years and for understanding that I am closing one chapter of my life and opening another. I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the amount of confidence that Drayton McLane, Ed Wade, Brad Mills and Dave Gottfried had in me to entrust me with this group of Astros pitchers, and I promise not to let them down.”

The former right-handed pitcher and Arlington, Texas resident was selected in the first round of the 1983 June Draft by the Yankees. He pitched 10 seasons between 1984 and 1993, spending time in the systems of the Yankees, Rangers, Indians, Cubs, Athletics and Cardinals. In 94 career Major League games, including four starts, with the Yankees (1986-87), Rangers (1989-91) and Indians (1992), he was 9-6 with a 4.26 ERA (75ER/158.1IP).

Arnsberg was a member of the 1992 Triple A Iowa team, which was managed by current Astros Manager Brad Mills.

“I have known Brad a long time and am thrilled about adding him to the staff,” Mills said.  “He is a top notch competitor whose name was at the top of our list.”

Meacham, 49, joins the Astros organization after previously serving as a coach for the Phillies Class A affiliate the Williamsport Crosscutters in 2009. Prior to that role, he spent three years as a Major League coach with the Yankees (third base), Padres (first base) and Marlins (third base).

In 17 years since 1992, Meacham has served in various roles as a manager, roving infield instructor and roving baserunning coach for the Rockies (1993, 2005), Angels (2002-04), Pirates (1994-2001) and Royals (1992). 

Originally selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1981 First-Year Player Draft, Meacham appeared in 457 Major League games over parts of six seasons from 1983-88 with the Yankees, posting a .236 (324x1371) career batting average.

“Having a guy with Bobby’s knowledge and expertise working with our infielders and to have his experience as a Major League coach is extremely valuable,” Mills said.