Al came to the Astros from the Arizona franchise where he served as interim manager for the Diamondbacks for the second half of the 2004 season after opening the year as the team’s third base coach. That season marked his first opportunity to coach at the Major League level after dedicating the previous nine years to work in the minor leagues, serving eight years as a manager. He spent the 2002-03 seasons with the Tucson Sidewinders, Arizona’s Triple A affiliate, posting back-to-back winning records each season, the first time that has occurred for the Tucson franchise since 1994-95 when it was affiliated with the Astros organization and Rick Sweet was at the helm. During the 2003 season, Al had 62 different players come through his dugout during the course of the campaign as a result of injuries at the Major League level. He was rewarded for his efforts by assisting the Major League coaching staff during the final month of the 2003 season.

Al owns a lifetime record of 463-433 ( 517) as a minor league manager, recording his 400th minor league managerial victory on April 29, 2003, with a win in Salt Lake. He was also a coach for the World Team in the 2003 MLB All-Star Future’s Game held at U S Cellular Field in Chicago.

His tenure with the Diamondbacks organization began in 2001 when he managed the Double A El Paso Diablos. He was coming off back-to-back playoff seasons with Michigan, the then-Class A affiliate of the Astros, highlighted by a Midwest League title in 2000 after finishing the regular season with an 82-56 mark ( 594). Al was named the Player Development Man of the Year by the Astros for his work during the 2000 season.

Al’s managerial career started in 1995 with Rookie League Spokane, his first of three minor league seasons at the helm in the Kansas City organization, including a Gulf Coast League Western Division crown in 1997. In 1998, he signed on as the hitting coach for Houston’s Triple A New Orleans affiliate, guiding the Zephyrs to the PCL and Triple A World Series championships.

Pedrique served as a minor league manager from 1995-2003, including two seasons with the Astros then-Class A affiliate in Michigan from 1999-2000. The 2000 Michigan club won the Midwest League title Pedrique’s first full-time Major League coaching job was in 2004, when he was the third base coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks before serving as the club’s manager for the second half of the season. Pedrique has also served as the manager for Magallanes club in the Venezuelan Winter League, during the 1998-99 and 2005-06 seasons He will again manage the team this winter.

A native of Venezuela, Al managed Magallanes in the Venezuelan Winter League in 1998-99, and again this past winter. He also managed the Scottsdale Scorpions to a league-best 29-15 record during the Arizona Fall League’s 2002 season before losing the title game to Peoria. The Astros Venezuelan Academy opened in 1989, and many current and former Major Leaguers are alumni of the academy, including players such as Bobby Abreu, Raul Chavez, Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen, Richard Hidalgo, Melvin Mora, and Johan Santana. Abreu was the first player invited to attend the academy, while Chavez was the first signing First baseman Roberto.

Petagine was the first product of the Astros Venezuelan Academy to reach the Major Leagues.

Al played three seasons at the Major League level from 1987-1989 as an infielder with the New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Detroit Tigers. In 174 games, he batted 247 (111x449) with one home run, 18 doubles, and 36 RBI In 1987, he was selected by Baseball Digest as the shortstop for the All-Rookie Team. He saw his last big league action with 31 games for Detroit in 1989. As a minor leaguer, he led all Texas League shortstops in fielding percentage in both 1983 and 1984 with Jackson. He was also named a 1985 International League All-Star while playing for the Tidewater Tides.

Al makes his home in Tucson, Ariz., and has two daughters, Mariana and Liliana.