Alan Ashby won't return on Astros telecasts

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Alan Ashby, who spent 11 years in an Astros uniform as a player and more than a decade in the broadcast booth as a radio and television play by play announcer and analyst, said Friday he will not return to Astros telecasts in 2016.

Ashby, 65, said he was informed two weeks ago by team president Reid Ryan that he will not be offered a new contract as the Astros revamp their TV plans in the wake of lead play by play announcer Bill Brown's retirement.

"I am not going to be back (for 2016)," Ashby said. "I am greatly hurt, but that's the way things go. It didn't catch me off guard, but when it happens, it hurts a lot."

Ashby rotated between analyst duties alongside Brown for most home games on Root Sports Southwest and was the play by play announcer alongside analyst Geoff Blum for most road games.

With Brown's retirement, Ryan said the Astros will return to a two-person team for television. No decision has been made as to who will fill those positions, he said.

"(Brown's) retirement gave us a chance to do a deep-dive look at the broadcast team," Ryan said. "Alan had a dual role in a three-man team, and we decided we wanted to go with a traditional play by play and color announcer scenario. We are committed to finding high-caliber talent who can provide us with the best broadcasts we can put out there.

"I want to thank Alan for his four seasons with us on the TV broadcasts and his longstanding loyalty to the Astros over the years."

Kevin Bass, Mike Scott, and Alan Ashby, members of the Houston Astros1986 NL Western Division Championship gathered to sign autographs for fans before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016, in Houston. less Kevin Bass, Mike Scott, and Alan Ashby, members of the Houston Astros1986 NL Western Division Championship gathered to sign autographs for fans before the start of an MLB game at Minute Maid Park, Saturday, ... more Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Alan Ashby won't return on Astros telecasts 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Ashby, a member of the Texas Baseball Hall of Fame who spent 11 of his 17 major league seasons as a catcher with the Astros and was named in 2012 to the team's 50-year anniversary all-star team, worked alongside Milo Hamilton on Astros radio broadcasts from 1998 through 2005.

When his contract was not renewed for 2006, he spent five seasons calling Toronto Blue Jays games until returning to Houston for the 2013 season. Brown reduced his schedule to 100 games beginning that season, so Ashby was placed in the unusual role of alternating between the play by play and analyst positions.

"I'm proud of the fact that I showed the ability to do both jobs at what I thought was a high level," Ashby said. "I am grateful to the fans who have shown so much support and voiced their pleasure for the work I did."

Ashby said he would like to remain in broadcasting but acknowledged that, at age 65, his chances of landing with another team may be limited.

Blum, the former Astros player who also joined the telecast team in 2013, has indicated that he would like to remain with the Astros. Ryan said he has no set timetable for announcing the team's 2016 TV broadcasters.

Robert Ford and Steve Sparks are under contract to return as the Astros' radio play by play announcer and analyst, respectively.