Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros players: who played for both
Who played for both the Tigers and Astros?
120 players played for both the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros between 1962 and 2025, including Brad Ausmus, Rusty Staub, Enos Cabell and Dave Bergman. 58 of them played for the Tigers first and 56 for the Astros first; 6 played for both in the same season.
Did you know?
- Al Cicotte is the earliest on this list to complete the pair: Tigers first, then the Astros from 1962.
- Zack Short is the most recent: Tigers first, then the Astros from 2025.
- Brad Ausmus played the most games across the two: 352 for the Tigers and 1,259 for the Astros.
- 26 of them had two or more separate spells with one of the teams, such as Brad Ausmus.
- Most common positions on this list: P (66), OF (16), 1B (10), C (8).
How many can you name?
Name players who played for both the Tigers and the Astros. The surname is enough. 0 / 120
All 120 players, most games for the two first
| Player | Pos | Tigers | Astros |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brad Ausmus | C | 1996, 1999–2000 (352 g) | 1997–1998, 2001–2008 (1259 g) |
| Rusty Staub | OF | 1976–1979 (549 g) | 1963–1968 (833 g) |
| Enos Cabell | 3B | 1982–1983 (246 g) | 1975–1980, 1984–1985 (1067 g) |
| Dave Bergman | 1B | 1984–1992 (871 g) | 1978–1981 (213 g) |
| Luis Gonzalez | OF | 1998 (154 g) | 1990–1995, 1997 (745 g) |
| Adam Everett | SS | 2009–2010 (149 g) | 2001–2007 (649 g) |
| J. D. Martinez | OF | 2014–2017 (458 g) | 2011–2013 (252 g) |
| Ivan Rodriguez | C | 2004–2008 (611 g) | 2009 (93 g) |
| Brian Hunter | OF | 1997–1999 (322 g) | 1994–1996, 2002–2003 (370 g) |
| Todd Jones | P | 1997–2001, 2006–2008 (480 g) | 1993–1996 (194 g) |
| Jake Marisnick | OF | 2023 (33 g) | 2014–2019 (631 g) |
| Carlos Peña | 1B | 2002–2005 (427 g) | 2013 (85 g) |
| Mike Henneman | P | 1987–1995 (491 g) | 1995 (21 g) |
| Justin Verlander | P | 2005–2017 (380 g) | 2017–2020, 2022–2024 (130 g) |
| Ray Knight | 3B | 1988 (105 g) | 1982–1984 (391 g) |
| Joe Niekro | P | 1970–1972 (89 g) | 1975–1985 (398 g) |
| Milt May | C | 1976–1979 (232 g) | 1974–1975 (238 g) |
| Fred Gladding | P | 1961–1967 (217 g) | 1968–1973 (233 g) |
| Andujar Cedeno | SS | 1996 (52 g) | 1990–1994, 1996 (395 g) |
| Robbie Grossman | OF | 2021–2022 (239 g) | 2013–2015 (190 g) |
| Aurelio Lopez | P | 1979–1985 (355 g) | 1986–1987 (71 g) |
| Doug Brocail | P | 1997–2000 (240 g) | 1995–1996, 2008–2009 (154 g) |
| Niko Goodrum | SS | 2018–2021 (376 g) | 2022 (15 g) |
| Glenn Wilson | OF | 1982–1983 (228 g) | 1989–1990 (146 g) |
| Octavio Dotel | P | 2012–2013 (63 g) | 2000–2004 (302 g) |
| Jose Valverde | P | 2010–2013 (226 g) | 2008–2009 (126 g) |
| Eric Munson | 3B | 2000–2004 (246 g) | 2006–2007 (103 g) |
| Gary Sutherland | 2B | 1974–1976 (320 g) | 1972–1973 (21 g) |
| Jim Ray | P | 1974 (28 g) | 1965–1966, 1968–1973 (281 g) |
| Julio Gonzalez | 2B | 1983 (12 g) | 1977–1980 (296 g) |
| Orlando Miller | SS | 1997 (50 g) | 1994–1996 (247 g) |
| Fred Scherman | P | 1969–1973 (213 g) | 1974–1975 (69 g) |
| Vern Ruhle | P | 1974–1977 (83 g) | 1978–1984 (186 g) |
| Jose Lima | P | 1994–1996, 2001–2002 (95 g) | 1997–2001 (168 g) |
| C. J. Nitkowski | P | 1995–1996, 1999–2001 (214 g) | 1998 (43 g) |
| Brian Moehler | P | 1996–2002 (131 g) | 2003, 2007–2010 (125 g) |
| Jose Cisnero | P | 2019–2023 (222 g) | 2013–2014 (33 g) |
| Leon Roberts | OF | 1974–1975 (146 g) | 1976–1977 (106 g) |
| Harry Spilman | 1B | 1986 (24 g) | 1981–1985, 1988–1989 (223 g) |
| Tim Byrdak | P | 2007 (39 g) | 2008–2010 (199 g) |
| Trever Miller | P | 1996 (5 g) | 1998–1999, 2006–2007 (230 g) |
| Pete Incaviglia | OF | 1991, 1998 (104 g) | 1992, 1998 (126 g) |
| Chris Truby | 3B | 2002 (89 g) | 2000–2001 (126 g) |
| Bob Bruce | P | 1959–1961 (50 g) | 1962–1966 (161 g) |
| Franklin Stubbs | 1B | 1995 (62 g) | 1990 (146 g) |
| Rafael Montero | P | 2025 (20 g) | 2021–2025 (187 g) |
| Joe Boever | P | 1993–1995 (125 g) | 1992 (81 g) |
| Roger Cedeno | OF | 2001 (131 g) | 2000 (74 g) |
| Jack Billingham | P | 1978–1980 (73 g) | 1969–1971 (131 g) |
| Dave Roberts | P | 1976–1977 (58 g) | 1972–1975 (143 g) |
| Zack Short | SS | 2021–2023 (179 g) | 2025 (22 g) |
| Brandon Lyon | P | 2009 (65 g) | 2010–2012 (131 g) |
| Hal Woodeshick | P | 1956, 1961 (14 g) | 1962–1965 (174 g) |
| Jim Crawford | P | 1976–1978 (89 g) | 1973, 1975 (92 g) |
| Larry Sherry | P | 1964–1967 (152 g) | 1967 (29 g) |
| Phil Nevin | 3B | 1995–1997 (160 g) | 1995 (18 g) |
| Brian Williams | P | 1996 (40 g) | 1991–1994, 1999 (134 g) |
| Alex Presley | OF | 2016–2017 (74 g) | 2014–2015 (97 g) |
| Paul Bako | C | 1998 (96 g) | 1999–2000 (74 g) |
| Dan Miceli | P | 1997 (71 g) | 2003–2004 (97 g) |
| Eddie Mathews | 3B | 1967–1968 (67 g) | 1967 (101 g) |
| Nelson Cruz | P | 1999–2000 (56 g) | 2001–2002 (109 g) |
| Dave Borkowski | P | 1999–2001 (34 g) | 2006–2008 (130 g) |
| Isaac Paredes | 3B | 2020–2021 (57 g) | 2025 (102 g) |
| Mitch Meluskey | C | 2002 (8 g) | 1998–2000, 2003 (147 g) |
| Don McMahon | P | 1968–1969 (54 g) | 1962–1963 (100 g) |
| Cameron Maybin | OF | 2007, 2016, 2020 (132 g) | 2017 (21 g) |
| Willie Blair | P | 1997, 1999–2001 (124 g) | 1992 (29 g) |
| Danny Worth | 2B | 2010–2014 (135 g) | 2016 (16 g) |
| Bill Gullickson | P | 1991–1994 (118 g) | 1990 (32 g) |
| Chris Holt | P | 2001 (30 g) | 1996–1997, 1999–2000 (103 g) |
| Tim Tolman | OF | 1986–1987 (25 g) | 1981–1985 (107 g) |
| Marc Krauss | 1B | 2015 (12 g) | 2013–2014 (119 g) |
| Dan Schatzeder | P | 1980–1981 (49 g) | 1989–1990 (81 g) |
| Gus Triandos | C | 1963 (106 g) | 1965 (24 g) |
| Mike Brumley | SS | 1989 (92 g) | 1993, 1995 (26 g) |
| Mike Ivie | 1B | 1982–1983 (92 g) | 1981–1982 (26 g) |
| Dave Mlicki | P | 1999–2001 (70 g) | 2001–2002 (41 g) |
| Jason Smith | 2B | 2004–2005 (88 g) | 2009 (21 g) |
| Aubrey Huff | 1B | 2009 (40 g) | 2006 (68 g) |
| Gene Pentz | P | 1975 (13 g) | 1976–1978 (91 g) |
| Doug Fister | P | 2011–2013 (70 g) | 2016 (32 g) |
| Jose Veras | P | 2013 (25 g) | 2013–2014 (76 g) |
| Josh Anderson | OF | 2009 (74 g) | 2007 (21 g) |
| Darin Downs | P | 2012–2013 (47 g) | 2014 (45 g) |
| Mike Fiers | P | 2018 (21 g) | 2015–2017 (71 g) |
| Sean Bergman | P | 1993–1995 (40 g) | 1998–1999 (50 g) |
| Armando Galarraga | P | 2008–2010 (84 g) | 2012 (5 g) |
| Dave Campbell | 2B | 1967–1969 (43 g) | 1973–1974 (44 g) |
| Bill Heath | C | 1967 (20 g) | 1966–1967 (64 g) |
| Nate Colbert | 1B | 1975 (45 g) | 1966, 1968 (39 g) |
| Mick Kelleher | SS | 1981–1982 (63 g) | 1974 (19 g) |
| Jose Urquidy | P | 2025 (2 g) | 2019–2023 (79 g) |
| Kyle Farnsworth | P | 2005, 2008 (62 g) | 2014 (16 g) |
| Jim Landis | OF | 1967 (25 g) | 1967 (50 g) |
| Chris Zachary | P | 1972 (25 g) | 1963–1967 (47 g) |
| Don Buddin | SS | 1962 (31 g) | 1962 (40 g) |
| Charlie Morton | P | 2025 (9 g) | 2017–2018 (55 g) |
| Dwayne Henry | P | 1995 (10 g) | 1991 (52 g) |
| Gregg Olson | P | 1996 (43 g) | 1996 (9 g) |
| Francisco Liriano | P | 2018 (27 g) | 2017 (20 g) |
| Dustin Garneau | C | 2021–2022 (28 g) | 2020 (17 g) |
| Brian Powell | P | 1998, 2002 (31 g) | 2000–2001 (10 g) |
| Mike Marshall | P | 1967 (37 g) | 1970 (4 g) |
| Dick Gernert | 1B | 1960–1961 (27 g) | 1962 (10 g) |
| Bob Scanlan | P | 1996 (8 g) | 1998 (27 g) |
| George Cappuzzello | P | 1981 (18 g) | 1982 (17 g) |
| Oscar Henriquez | P | 2002 (30 g) | 1997 (4 g) |
| Bligh Madris | 1B | 2024 (21 g) | 2023 (12 g) |
| Don Lee | P | 1957–1958 (12 g) | 1965–1966 (16 g) |
| Francisco Cordero | P | 1999 (20 g) | 2012 (6 g) |
| Yorman Bazardo | P | 2007–2008 (14 g) | 2009 (10 g) |
| Jim Lindeman | OF | 1990 (12 g) | 1993 (9 g) |
| Al Cicotte | P | 1958 (15 g) | 1962 (5 g) |
| Randy Wolf | P | 2015 (8 g) | 2008 (12 g) |
| Miguel Diaz | P | 2022–2023 (15 g) | 2024 (1 g) |
| Rusty Meacham | P | 1991 (10 g) | 2000 (5 g) |
| Matt Gage | P | 2025 (6 g) | 2023 (5 g) |
| Jeff McCurry | P | 1996 (2 g) | 1999 (5 g) |
| Roger Mason | P | 1984 (5 g) | 1989 (2 g) |
From the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0), 1876–2025. A season counts when the player played at least one regular-season game for the franchise.Astros seasons include the Houston Colt .45's (1962–1964).
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Questions
How many players have played for both the Detroit Tigers and the Houston Astros?
120 in the Lahman Baseball Database from 1962 to 2025, including Brad Ausmus, Rusty Staub, Enos Cabell and Dave Bergman. A player counts when he played at least one regular-season game for each franchise.
Who was the first player on this list to play for both?
Al Cicotte: Detroit Tigers first, then the Houston Astros from 1962.
Who has played for both recently?
Justin Verlander, Rafael Montero, Zack Short, Isaac Paredes, Jose Urquidy and Charlie Morton and 3 more, with a season for one of the two in 2024 or 2025.
Does a player count if the team has moved or changed its name?
Yes. Seasons count for today's franchise, the way the Lahman database links every team-season to a franchise. Astros seasons include the Houston Colt .45's (1962–1964).
Careers from the SABR Lahman Baseball Database (CC BY-SA 3.0). Team logos are trademarks of their respective teams (logos via TheSportsDB). Independent and not affiliated with MLB or any team. Credits