“Nolan Ryan’s contract with the Astros as an executive advisor runs through Feb/2020. If Nolan has decided to step down that is his decision. Nolan will always be welcome at Minute Maid Park and at any Astros-related activities.”
Ryan's decision came less than two hours after the announcement that his son was re-assigned. Coincidentally, Crane's son is joining the executive team, 11 days after Crane apologized to a Sports Illustrated reporter and retracted a statement by the club accusing her of trying to "fabricate a story."
Crane said Thursday he was bringing in his son, Jared, to get more experience and to help the organization. Crane maintained the moves were not related to the incident with SI or the firing of an assistant general manager. The owner turns 66 in January.
Houston says Ryan's new role as executive adviser of business relations will allow him "more opportunities to focus on his other business ventures while remaining an important part of the Astros organization." Jim Crane said Ryan will be helping his son and working with the executive team.
Nolan Ryan had held a position as an executive advisor with the Astros since his departure from the Texas Rangers in 2014.
Many Rangers fans blamed general manager Jon Daniels for the Hall of Famer's departure as president of the club after back-to-back World Series in 2010 and 2011.
The Ryan's own two of the Astros minor-league clubs, the Triple-A Round Rock Express and the Double-A Corpus Christi Hooks