Happy Birthday - 9/28

RHP Danilo Del Rio (21)
Signed as a non-drafted free agent from Columbia in 2007, Danilo first played in the VSL in 2008.  After being used primarily as a starter in the previous 2 seasons, Danilo was used almost exclusively in the bullpen in long relief in 2011, his first season at Greeneville.  In 17 appearances, he was 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA and a 1.704 WHIP.

LHP Javier Saucedo (18)
2011 was Javier's first season in the Astros organization, having been signed as a non-drafted free agent out of Panama in 2010.  In 12 appearances out of the bullpen with the DSL Astros, he was 1-0 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.925 WHIP, but he had shown much improvement as he posted a 7.30ERA/2.351WHIP Pre All-Star and a 1.80 ERA/1.4 WHIP Post All-Star.

RHP Michael Feliz (18)
Feliz is just turning 18 and he already has two professional seasons behind him.  Signed as a non-drafted free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2010, he started for the DSL Astros last season and moved to the GCL Astros this season where he went 0-3 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP over 10 starts.  He showed good improvement over the season.  His BA against was .324 in June, .307 in July and .218 in August, and his ERA reflected that improvement as well.

Five former Astros with birthdays today

1B Dick Gernert (83)
Played for the Colt 45's in 1962

PH Gene Ratliff (66)
Had 4 at-bats in 4 games for the Colt 45's in 1965 and that one hit in the majors eluded him

RHP Charlie Kerfeld (48)
One of the coneheads, he pitched for Houston from 1985 to 1987 and in 1990

C Ronn Reynolds (53)
Catcher for the fictional Sidd Finch, he played for Houston in 1987

C Hector Gimenez (29)
Played in 2 games for Houston in 2006