Happy Birthday - 1/13

SS Jonathan Merritt (24)
Signed by the Astros as a non-drafted free agent in 2010, Merritt last played in Greeneville in 2010.  I haven't been able to find any information about his status, but he is still shown as being in the Astros organization.  In 2010, he batted .248/.367/.421/.788 with nine doubles, seven triples, four home runs and twelve stolen bases.

C Emerson Frostad (29)
Drafted by the Rangers in the 13th round in 2003, this native of British Columbia signed with the Astros as a free agent in 2011.  Frostad split the 2011 season between Corpus Christi and Oklahoma City and compiled a .235/.337/.331/.668 batting line.  He hit .409 with a double and five RBI's as he played for Canada in the 2011 Baseball World Cup.

Former Astros with birthdays today

UT Ron Brand (72)
Played in 300 games for Houston from 1965 to 1968

LHP Mike Madden (55)
Pitched for Houston from 1983 to 1986 going 12-10 with a 3.94 ERA
Came to Houston with Kevin Bass & Frank DiPino in a trade with Milwaukee for Don Sutton

SS Orlando Miller (43)
Played in 247 games for Houston in 1994 to 1996
Batting line of .262/.307/.406/.713
Went to Detroit in a monster 9-player trade on 12/10/96

From Baseball-Reference: "The Houston Astros traded Doug Brocail, Brian Hunter, Todd Jones, Orlando Miller and cash to the Detroit Tigers for Brad Ausmus,Jose Lima, Trever Miller, C.J. Nitkowski and Daryle Ward."