The Houston Astros have hired former Major League outfielder Quinton McCracken as the team's new director of player development, according to an announcement by the team on Friday.

The 42-year-old McCracken spent the last two seasons as a part of the Arizona Diamondbacks' front office as the team's assistant director of player development. In that role, he worked as a liaison between the Major League club and their minor league affiliates, and will be "instrumental in developing the next generation of Astros stars", according to Houston's General Manager Jeff Luhnow.

McCracken was a 25th-round selection out of Duke in the 1992 MLB draft and had a 12-year Major League career while playing for six different organizations. He posted a .274 career batting average with 21 home runs, 244 RBI and 89 stolen bases during those 12 seasons.

McCracken replaces Fred Nelson, who has been offered an opportunity to stay in the organization in another capacity.